The Ohangwena Region's education sector is faced with a myriad of challenges, including a shortage of classrooms and a lack of sufficient infrastructure, among others.

This was brought to light during a consultation meeting held at Ondobe on Monday between the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT, and Youth Development and education stakeholders.

The aim of the gathering was to share ideas, information, views, and perspectives on the current crisis in the education sector in Ohangwena Region, which has 126,342 learners spread across 290 schools. 

The Regional Education Director, Isak Hamatwi, said the region's performance is hampered by a lack of stationary, textbooks, and school furniture. 

Hamatwi informed the committee that there is a shortage of about 500 classrooms and that almost 100 schools lack administration blocks, forcing teachers to do their administrative work in storage rooms.

"My presentations as a director are not allegations, but those are factual challenges that are not pinned onto a technocrat because the margin of those are emanating from insufficient funds, which are put at the disposal of technocrats to execute the business of the government. We are just saying to the government that our funds are not enough, and if we get more, we will as well do more."

The committee's chairperson, Bertha Dinyando, promised that these challenges presented by stakeholders would be tabled in Parliament for central government consideration. 

Dinyando added that challenges in the Ohangwena Region are not unique to the region.

"To shed more light on the education system and what causes the outcry by the Namibian people calling education a crisis, what are the challenges, what are the opportunities, and what are the possible recommendations to improve the current situation?"

NANTU's Regional Chairperson in Ohangwena, George Hafilwa, said widespread consultations have been undertaken with little or no tangible outcomes.

"Regional and circuit conferences are held, the same issues are raised, and directors meet at NCC meetings too, where the same issues are raised and national summaries are made. The annual education service is there; media reports, radio open lines, and other platforms talk about these things, but nothing is happening."