WINDHOEK: The Khomas Region needs at least three new fully-fledged schools every year to accommodate annual growth of 2 665 learners, according to its governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua.

Delivering the Khomas State of the Region Address on Monday, McLeod-Katjirua stated that the region has 141 schools with a learner population of 106 350, and an annual increase of 2 665 learners. This translates into a yearly need for 72 additional classrooms or at least three fully-fledged schools in the region.

She further indicated that the learner population in the region has grown by 18 per cent over the past six years, from 93 600 learners in 2019 to 106 350 in 2024.

The Governor also noted that the Namibia Senior Secondary School Ordinary Level results for 2023 showed improvement, with 1 610 learners qualifying to proceed to the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary Level in 2024, compared to 1 290 in 2023. This represents an increase of 7.9 per cent, from 25.8 per cent to 33.7 per cent respectively.

‘This has seen the Khomas Region emerge in the top position in the national ranking for the Namibia Senior Secondary Ordinary Level. The region, however, has dropped in the national ranking for the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary Level, from position seven in 2022 to position 10 in 2023,’ she said.

McLeod-Katjirua added that the council budgeted N.dollars 500 000 annually for school uniforms and bags, which were allocated to all constituencies based on the needs of their communities. A total of 411 learners from 30 schools benefited.

She also noted that the regional council assisted 103 Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) students in upgrading their Grade 11 and 12 results to the tune of N.dollars 147 000 in 2024 from all 10 constituencies. Additionally, 69 students studying at accredited institutions of higher learning were assisted with a combined registration fee amounting to N.dollars 220 000 in 2024, from all 10 constituencies.

Source: The Namibia News Agency