Erongo building more classrooms for first graders

The Directorate of Education in the Erongo Region is constructing extra classrooms in a bid to accommodate all first graders in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
The region’s Director of Education, John /Awaseb told Nampa on Tuesday the lack of space for first graders continues to be a problem in both coastal towns.
Eight classrooms are being constructed at the Kuisebmond Project School in Walvis Bay, while seven are being constructed in Swakopmund, next to Hanganeni Primary School.
“Every year, our Grade One, Eight and 11 classrooms are full and this year is no exception,” he said.
/Awaseb said although there is also lack of space for Grade Eight and 11 learners, the biggest problem is accommodating the first graders.
Statistics from December 2017 showed that 1 200 first graders sought spaces in Walvis Bay, while Swakopmund has to accommodate 620 first graders.
The director however said these numbers might increase or decrease from this week as school starts as more children might show up at schools or find space in other regions.
“The new classrooms will allow children to start lessons towards the end of this month. Currently, we do not have space for them,” he said.
The new structures will be used for morning and afternoon lessons.
Afternoon slots will also accommodate Grade Eight and 11 learners whom there is no space for in the morning slots.
“I request parents to be patient, even though we do not have enough space as has been the case every year, we give our assurance that all children will be accommodated, especially those from Erongo,” /Awaseb said.
Besides Henties Bay, where a lack of space is also experienced, the director said the rest of the schools in the region have enough space for all learners.
The influx of learners to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is due to people moving to the coast in search of employment, mostly at the mines and fish factories.
The director said there can be between 40 and 45 learners in one class.
He noted that even with the construction of two primary schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in 2016, the region still requires six more primary and secondary schools to keep up with the inflow.
(NAMPA)