Allexer Namundjembo
Student leaders have demanded the immediate provision of classrooms for more than 550 learners at Ndama East Primary School in Rundu.
The learners are being taught under trees by only 14 teachers.
The Student Union of Namibia (SUN) national secretary for information and publicity, Johannes Malapi, said the lack of classrooms is a blatant violation of Article 20 of the Namibian Constitution.
“It also amounts to discrimination under Article 10, as rural learners are denied the same quality education afforded to their urban peers,” Malapi told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday.
He accused teachers’ unions for failing to defend educators in such conditions.
“Silence in the face of this crisis is complicity,” he said.
He praised activists and community leaders who exposed the issue.
“We salute the courage of those who have brought this issue to light.”
Also speaking on the matter, National African Students Association (Nasa) spokesperson Mitch Muatuli also called for urgent solutions.
“This situation is unacceptable and requires immediate, practical solutions. We are advocating for temporary classrooms or shelters to ensure learners have a safe and dignified environment while long-term solutions are developed,” he said.
Muatuli urged the ministry of education and private partners to prioritise permanent classrooms.
“In light of the delays that usually come with big projects, the government should establish clear mechanisms to monitor progress and ensure that the situation in Ndama is resolved promptly, while also advocating for similar improvements across the country,” he said.
He added that Nasa will send a regional team to Ndama to assess the conditions and gather insights for advocacy.
The student bodies condemned the neglect of rural schools, highlighting the imbalance where some schools with proper facilities close due to low enrolment, while others like Ndama operate without classrooms.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) through spokesperson Jessy Abraham, called the situation “a fundamental failure of the education system and a betrayal of children’s constitutional right to quality education.”
She urged both immediate and long-term interventions.
“It is imperative that we improve school infrastructure across the country, equip every school with modern educational tools and technologies, and end the systemic neglect of rural schools. Accountability must be enforced through regular audits and public reporting, with communities actively involved in maintaining facilities. The government must treat educational infrastructure as a national priority, and all stakeholders, including regional authorities, the private sector, and international partners, must work together to address this crisis without delay,” she said.
The unions also criticised government spending priorities, saying funds for one-day celebrations should be redirected to urgent needs like classrooms and job creation.
They acknowledged that five schools were built in Rundu over the past two years but stressed that Ndama requires immediate attention.
Earlier this year, Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha and his team visited Ndama East Primary School in Rundu.
The school, established by community members in 2022, has 630 learners and 15 volunteer teachers. With only three corrugated iron classrooms, most lessons take place under 13 large trees.
At that time, the chief complaint investigator in the Ombudsman’s office, Utjitiraije Mberirua, said the visit followed complaints from the Ndama East community.
Residents also recently expressed concern that children continue to learn under trees, often exposed to harsh weather conditions.
