The Zambezi Education Directorate has opened a new primary school in the Kabbe North Constituency.

The school will mainly accommodate children from Libula and Kalimbeza villages who previously had to walk on foot to far-off schools.

The Malalankanga Primary School was started as a community school project by locals to address the distance learners had to walk to the nearest schools.

It has now been approved as a government school, with learners in the area going to their school just a stone's throw away.

The education inspector for Bukalo Circuit, Namasiku Limbo, commended efforts made by the residents and the local authority in meeting the ministry halfway and making education accessible to all children.

"So as one of the goals is access to education, the ministry felt that it was worthy to open this school since it met requirements; the long distance that learners walked was indeed too far, and it took courage for them to continue doing that up until today, so my expectation as a ministry is that we put our hands together to ensure that teaching and learning take place in this school."

Limbo said chairs, tables, and other materials needed would be provided soon.

He further emphasised the right to education for every Namibian child and the government's role in ensuring that citizens, no matter where they may reside, have access to a classroom.

The school currently has over one hundred learners who previously walked about five kilometres to and from the nearest schools.

Kabbe North Constituency Councillor Bernard Sisamu, while sharing his appreciation for the new school, asked the newly formed school board members to ensure that learners receive the quality education they deserve. 

"You are the eyes and ears of this community; make it a point that learning is taking place at this place; advise the parents to attend parent meetings; that is your role; make sure that teachers are at school from Monday up to Friday; that is your role; don't hesitate to meet the teachers if you find that education is not going well at this school."

At the moment, the four-classroom school has a staff complement of four teachers and a caretaker.