Building additional classrooms to cater to the ever-increasing demand for schools is one of the pressing priorities for the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture.

The Deputy Executive Director of the ministry, Edda Bohn, has revealed that the ministry has spent over N$155 million to construct 534 additional classrooms, 74 ablution facilities, and over 700 posts.

For now, school gates are still closed, but when the bells ring next week, it might be a different scene.

In the past few years, it has become evident that many parents form long lines, desperately seeking placement for their children.

In 2023, schools opened the application process and responded to parents in September of that year.

According to Bohn, the respective regional offices of education have consolidated placements for learners, including those who could not secure placement at the schools they have applied to.

"If we take stock, we are ready to admit the 98,253, who are the Grade 1 learners for 2023, and also the 3 percent increase that we expect that this number might rise to 100,000 grade one's this year, and this does not even include the repeaters. We hope all will pitch for school."

The deputy executive director encourages parents or guardians who may still need placement for their children to contact the Education Directorate in their region.

She promises that should there not be space for the placement of learners, the ministry will create space, albeit not at the school of choice applied for by the parent.

"We also know that not every choice and individual can't be met as parents wish, and that is why we have to be in constant contact with the community and the schools in order to meet the needs of the parents and learners out there who are eligible to enter school."

She further revealed that the ministry is busy with stakeholders and aims to transform the application process for school placements to digital platforms.

723 new teaching posts have been created across the country to accommodate the growing need for teaching staff.

The recruitment process in this regard has commenced at the regional level.

"Myself and the ED will remain in contact with the regions, and depending on the influx of learners and the need, teaching staff will be increased as needed, and that will further be communicated to the regions as well."

The ministry has received about N$66.9 million for school and hostel furniture, N$40 million for textbooks, and an additional N$10 million for increasing the capacity for teaching staff.

Training for teachers is an ongoing process, and the first for this year is earmarked for the following three months.