Otjozondjupa Acting Education Director Uerivangera Tjivikua says they will exhaust all possible avenues to ensure that all children secure space in schools.

Rural urban migration takes place at a fast pace in the Otjozondjupa Region, especially in Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, and Grootfontein.

This, in turn, results in more and more learners seeking placement in schools every year.

About 656 Grade 1 learners and 12,000 Grade 8 learners have not yet secured places in the three towns.

For Otjiwarongo, the Education Ministry established two more schools last year, Orwetoveni Project Secondary School and Otjiwarongo Project Primary School.

To date, the schools are fully constructed, with only the connection of water and electricity outstanding.

"However, we are anticipating that in a few weeks the connection of water and electricity will be done and learners will move to their new schools, but I don't think they will be able to absorb what is there."

Temporary structures will be put up while some learners will get space through filtering admission, as some parents might have applied to more than one school.

To accommodate more learners, the Education Directorate will also be renting church buildings to use as classrooms.

Not only that, with the long list of children still needing placement, Tjivikua says they will continue with the platoon system.

Leaners who did not get placement at the schools they applied to will be sent to other schools with space and that have hostels.

To the parents who have not secured a place yet for their children, the Acting Otjozondjupa Education Director says they should not lose hope, as it is the mandate of the Education Ministry to ensure that all school-going-age children secure space in school.