About 287 Grade 8 learners who could not secure school placement in the Otjozondjupa Region have finally returned to class.

The learners are now accommodated in classrooms at different project schools in Otjiwarongo and Okahandja.

Otjozondjupa Education Director, Josephine Mutenda told nbc News that learners returned to class this week.

Mutenda says eight learners in Okahandja Circuit did not manage to secure placement at the start of this academic year, while Otjiwarongo had 279 pupils on a waiting list.

Mutenda adds that plans are underway to construct project schools at Otjiwarongo's Extension 6 and at Okahandja's Smartie Town location, between April and May.

The schools would see the introduction of 11 new teachers as well as Grade 8 classes.

“We would like at this juncture to the municipality, they have availed land where we are going to a new school and this land is in Extension 6, just behind Extension 6. So we are really thankful that the land issue is sorted and a school will be built there. In Otjiwarongo we are going to build eight classrooms and in Okahandja Project School, 14 classrooms. We are going to start from Grade 8 for now, next year it is going to be extended to grade 9 until it's a fully-fledged school.”

Schools, including Vooruit Primary, are hampered by overcrowding. 

Principal Elbie van der Westhuizen says a project school classroom recently set up will allow for the accommodation of more learners, in a space once reserved for woodwork. 

The school is appealing to its friends in education to meet it halfway and help it build new classrooms.