Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Kavango East education director Christine Shilima said her office has not received any formal communication regarding the discussions
“Kavango East education director Christine Shilima yesterday said her office has not received any formal communication regarding the discussions.”
Leaked document reveals 5% pay rise for Namibia civil servants and teachers from 2026New Era
Director of education Christine Shilima said they have started procurement process to get a temporary solution
“New Era spoke to the director of education in Kavango East, Christine Shilima, who said that they have started with the procurement process to get a temporary solution.”
Poor sanitation shuts Rundu Rural schoolThe Namibian
Kavango East regional education director Christine Shilima says her region is defying recommended pupil-teacher ratios to accommodate all pupils
“Kavango East regional education director Christine Shilima says her region does not have pupils who are not attending school as they are defying the recommended pupil-teacher ratio.”
Over 1 000 Namibian pupils left without school places as classroom shortages reach crisis pointNew Era
Christine Shilima said classrooms are not enough and some learners are taught in afternoon at Dr Diaz Secondary
“"We are challenged by space. The classrooms are not enough. For example, at Dr Diaz Secondary, some learners are taught in the afternoon.”
No space for AS level learners in Kavango EastNew Era
Christine Shilima confirmed learners were turned away at registration points and has since intervened
“She confirmed that learners were turned away at registration points but said she has since intervened and learners were expected to return to school yesterday.”
School turns 100 learners away over feesParents in Kavango East have questioned schools requesting contributions for holiday classes despite government funding such programmes. Education minister says government covers core costs, but parents may voluntarily contribute to specific expenses, though a community activist warns the practice excludes poor pupils and exploits uninformed families.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Parents in Kavango East have questioned schools requesting contributions for holiday classes despite government funding such programmes. Education minister says government covers core costs, but parents may voluntarily contribute to specific expenses, though a community activist warns the practice excludes poor pupils and exploits uninformed families.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Leevi Hakusembe Senior Secondary School in Kavango West has prohibited pupils from bringing food to the hostel, citing waste reduction and fairness concerns. The principal says the rule encourages use of the school dining hall, though parents claim their children are going hungry.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Two secondary schools in Rundu received 200 chairs and 189 desks after local craftsmen refurbished broken furniture with a N$90,000 sponsorship from KDG Autolink, easing a chronic furniture shortage that had left learners without seating during examinations.
14 April 2026 · New Era →
Residents and former volunteer teachers at Ndama East Primary School in Kavango East are protesting the recruitment process, alleging unfair exclusion of 14 volunteers who established and built the school from 2018 to 2022 under difficult conditions with minimal resources. Only two of the qualified volunteers were appointed despite the school now having grown to over 1,600 pupils, and community members have called for intervention and compensation.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Pupils at Rundu Secondary School in Kavango East reported suspected food poisoning after eating lunch, with 15 treated and four admitted to hospital. The pupils blamed the hostel kitchen's dirty conditions and poor hygiene, noting the presence of cockroaches, flies, and drainage problems; health inspectors were investigating and similar incidents have affected schools across both Kavango regions.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Eileen Private School in Kavango East is offering Grade 10 classes despite a January directive from the regional education directorate to stop, as the school is only authorised to teach pre-primary through junior secondary. The school owner disputes the inspector's approach while the education directorate says the school violated the Basic Education Act by not submitting a required application for the new classes.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A suspected food poisoning outbreak at Rundu Senior Secondary School has affected 283 learners, with four admitted to hospital and 11 under medical observation. The incident, linked to food consumed on Monday, comes as the Kavango regions have recorded 30 food poisoning deaths over the past three years, and at least five cases have been reported since the beginning of 2026.
18 March 2026 · Informanté →
Fifteen pupils from Rundu Secondary School in Kavango East region are at Rundu State Hospital with suspected food poisoning, while 283 pupils at the hostel showed symptoms of diarrhoea. Health inspectors are investigating the cause, with hostel superintendent Samuel Marungu saying the suspected contamination may be linked to meals served for lunch or dinner.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A Northern Regional Electricity Distributor strike in Kavango East has cut power to school hostels since Friday, forcing the closure of facilities serving over 2,000 pupils and spoiling food supplies. The strike stems from wage negotiations; employees are demanding a 6% pay increase and a 14th cheque, while Nored has offered 3.5% and agreed to the cheque.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Mutwarantja Primary School in Rundu has remained closed for a month due to dilapidated pit latrines deemed unsafe by parents and staff. The education directorate says procurement delays are preventing toilet construction, despite available regional council funds, leaving approximately 300 learners out of school.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
A leaked government document indicates civil servants and teachers will receive a 5% salary increase for the 2026/27 financial year and a further 5% for 2027/28, with no transport allowance increment in 2026/27 but a 7% increase scheduled for 2027/28. A senior government official confirmed the document's authenticity and said an official announcement will be made in due course, though some government bodies including the Prime Minister's office said they are unaware of the increment.
25 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Mutwarantja Primary School in Rundu Rural has suspended classes for a second week because its pit latrines are unsafe for teachers and learners in grades 0–7. The education directorate is working on a procurement process for temporary and permanent sanitation solutions, while the school explores immediate repairs using available funds.
29 January 2026 · New Era →
The Namibian education ministry is struggling to place over 1,000 pupils in schools nationally due to rapid population growth and a shortage of classrooms, with children sitting at home weeks into the academic year, particularly in densely populated regions like Khomas. The ministry says it is repurposing existing facilities and will ensure all pupils receive access to education, though officials acknowledge the classroom backlog is a recurring challenge that has not kept pace with population growth.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Kavango East education directorate says there is insufficient classroom space to place Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level learners who upgraded from grade 11, with spaces reserved for full-time grade 11 learners. The directorate is waiting until the end of the week to see which enrolled learners do not return to AS level before opening admissions to learners from part-time schools.
22 January 2026 · New Era →
About 100 learners were sent home from Joy Mungungu Senior Primary School in Rundu during registration after their parents failed to pay N$210 School Development Fund contributions, sparking parent protests; the Kavango East education director confirmed learners were turned away but said she intervened so they could return, noting the school board raised the fees to fund temporary classrooms to address overcrowding and safety concerns in the area.
14 January 2026 · New Era →