The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, says free education does not mean parents cannot contribute to the education of their children.
Nghipondoka has therefore urged parents to assist schools in meeting their basic educational needs wherever possible.
Speaking at the handover of the Linus Shashipapo Secondary School, Nghipondoka was quick to warn school authorities that by no means should they bar learners from classes.
The school development fund is a hotly debated topic every year, mainly in public schools, with some demanding learners pay before setting foot in the classroom.
"In fact, education has been free since independence; it is only that the contribution of parents, which was usually done through the SDF, was abused because some principals used it to exclude some children in some schools by asking them to pay even before they were registered, and we said no, you can't do that, which is why we said if this is used to exclude some learners, do away with the SDF, but we are not saying parents contribute nothing."
Nghipondoka made the remarks in response to Linus Shashipapo's principal, Albert Kativa, who said their new laboratory lacked chemicals and scientific instruments for experiments.
"Others are doing it, on the other hand, your children and your school will be left behind because other parents are contributing, so let's do it. We are talking about voluntary contribution, which I know will not be difficult if parents understand."
She called on school management to initiate fund-raising activities to support educational programmes.
Nghipondoka also took a swipe at teachers who do not provide advice on the new curriculum or career guidance to their learners.
"We are sitting with these children. They are in grade 11, and they did not apply to any university. They don't even know what they are going to study, and I say every time, every teacher must be a guidance teacher."
Linuns Shashipapo is one of the five schools selected to offer advanced subsidiary levels in the Kavango East Region.