The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture is facing an uphill battle for the placement of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners.

The nbc News sat down with the Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, for an update on the 2024 placements for Grades 1 and 8.

Otjozondjupa, |Khomas and Erongo regions are at the top of the list, grappling with placement challenges.

In the |Khomas Region, 389 Grade 1 learners and 600 Grade 8 learners are still waiting for placement.

Plans are afoot to expand the recently built state-of-the-art Vaalgras Primary School's curriculum to offer Grade 8 in 2025 to enhance learner enrollment numbers.

The ||Kharas Education Directorate Inspector for Kalahari Desert Education Circuit, Ryan Assegaai, revealed this in an interview with nbc News.

The government invested N$104 million for the construction of the Vaalgras Primary School and hostel blocks. 

The school, with a learner enrollment capacity of 550, opened its doors in April.

Currently, only 160 learners are enrolled at the school.