Growing enrolment is driving the expansion of education infrastructure in Kunene, with new facilities aimed at responding to the region's changing needs.

The regional education director Sophia Ferdrieck in an interview with NBC Newss says a major development of a resource school for the visually impaired, hearing impaired and intellectually challenged children is set to be completed soon in Kamanjab, and this will broaden access to specialised education in the region.

"The construction of the resource school that is under way in Kamanjab is a ministerial priority which emanated from our 2022 national conference on education, in which it was realised that in each and every region there should be a resource school, and we are so fortunate as Kunene that we are the first one to be considered under that decision which was taken."

Ferdrieck highlighted that the region's education landscape has expanded significantly in response to growing pressure from communities.

" When I joined the directorate or the region in February 2024, we had 75 schools, including private schools. As we speak today, we are at 88 schools, meaning that it's a number of schools that we have established, not because we had the resources, but because of the demand that we are getting from the community."

She stressed that the pressure is particularly evident in growing urban centres, where existing infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the number of learners. Outjo has already seen relief, with learners previously accommodated under an afternoon platoon system now attending a new secondary school.

Ferdrieck further underscored that the government is extending its response to Opuwo through planned measures to ease congestion.

"The same demand we received is in Opuwo. That's why we also have the minister and, through the government, the commitment plan. If you have heard of the decongestion plan, which is budgeted for by the government. OUT

The developments signal a broader push to expand education capacity and ensure Kunene's growing learner population is adequately accommodated.