Allexer Namundjembo
The education directorate of the Kavango East region has resorted to renting halls as examination venues, citing an inability to accommodate the rising number of students at existing school facilities.
The decision to rent external spaces follows refusals from churches in the past to allow the use of their buildings for exams.
Christine Shilima, Kavango East’s regional education director, confirmed that the region faces a critical shortage of exam venues due to a lack of school halls.
“Schools were built without halls, and we have more learners who can’t fit in classrooms. Due to the rules of exams, learners are required to sit far from each other when writing their exams, so it is space-consuming, leaving us with no option but to rent halls,” she said.
She added that schools with low numbers of learners are using classes for their examinations, but the number of learners in the region is higher.
Local student leaders have voiced frustration over the venue shortage, arguing that the reliance on rented halls reveals deeper structural challenges.
Onesmus Iyambo of the Affirmative Repositioning Students Command (ARSC) criticised the government’s approach, calling it a reflection of neglect toward learners.
According to him, this failure not only hindered learners from continuing with their academic pursuits but also had a detrimental impact on the nation as a whole.
“These developments highlight a fundamental failure by the government to prioritise our learners and students. It is not just an academic setback that tarnishes our image as a nation. We must ask ourselves: How does the world view a country that cannot support its own learners? The Ministry needs to treat this issue as a top priority,” Iyambo said.
Muzani Muzani, the national spokesperson for the National African Students’ Association (NASA), added that the shortage of examination venues could affect students’ performance, especially those in higher learning institutions who need dedicated study spaces.
“When such cases arise, provision of halls may be made, but such situations are mostly reported in lower institutions of learning and affect ongoing classes for others,” Muzani added.
Johannes Bernabe, a representative of the Uniting Reformed Church in Rundu, suggested that the education ministry could establish agreements with churches if they wished to utilise church spaces for exams.
“If the directorate approaches us, we will have to discuss it and we will set an agreement, but we basically have no problem with assisting,” he said.
On the other hand, Rundu Rural Constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu said his office had not received any formal complaints or requests for assistance from schools within his constituency.
“We have not received any formal request from the schools in my constituency, Mbangu said.
Governor Bonifatius Wakudumo of Kavango East, in his State of the Region Address, highlighted the need to shift development budgets from new school projects to renovating dilapidated facilities.
He cited challenges such as rundown hostels, a shortage of classrooms, and insufficient sanitation, along with missing libraries and science labs, as critical issues the region faces.
“We are grappling with numerous challenges, including deteriorating school and hostel facilities, a shortage of classrooms, chairs, and desks, as well as inadequate sanitation, missing libraries, and the absence of science and biology laboratories. Waste management is another pressing issue we face,” Wakudumo said.
