The mayor of Karibib, Davey van Wyk, has urged the Ministry of Education to build additional schools in the town to accommodate the growing population.
Van Wyk made this statement while donating one thousand play packs to the Emmaus Kindergarten, which were provided by the Twin Hill Project.
Van Wyk said that the increasing mining activity in the Karibib area is attracting more people to the town in search of better opportunities.
The only government primary school in the town is crowded and cannot handle the pressure.
He added that many parents have to send their children as far as Otjimbingwe and Usakos to access education.
"Our town is growing and is not only growing in terms of people that come and put up houses, but if there are more families that come to our town, there will be more children, and these children should be accommodated. So we in the education sector also prepare ourselves to assist the government with private initiatives like this one to assist the government to accommodate some of the children."
He further called on the Early Childhood Development Centres to apply for land through the council, where they can put up proper centres to avoid backyard kindergartens.
The principal of Emmaus kindergarten, Audrey Salkunga, accepted the play packs on behalf of the beneficiaries, saying the contributions will help provide a daily warm meal for the learners.
"At our centre, we have learners from one year old up to six years old. We have six classes and seven teachers, with two volunteers. We get volunteers from Germany as well; they are also here helping us. This year we have 160 learners enrolled. To Twin Hills Foundation and Osino Resources, we say thank you."
Speaking at the event, Werner Schuckmann, the Country Director of Osino Gold Exploration and Mining, emphasised the importance of collaborating and investing in the early childhood development of Namibian children, as they are the future leaders.
"We will need to take hands; we need to share our resources, share the energy, and really invest in the most important people in our country, which are the children; those are the future leaders."