Aleta Shaanika

Grade 10
16 years old
!Garibams Secondary School

Section I: Essay

Identifying and Solving Challenges in Our Education System

Education is an important factor to the children of today as we are the future of our
country. However, in Namibia this might not be the case as it is experiencing
challenges in our education system.

In order for us to be able to identify and solve these challenges, we need to fully
understand what our education system is and how it is structured here in Namibia.
Namibia’s education system is structured into the pre-primary, primary and
secondary education. The current education system aims to provide quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all its citizens.

There are many key features and components of our education system that include a
broad-based education curriculum that is designed to accommodate Namibian
schools. The curriculum is continuously revised in order to be able to align with
International standards.

Although Namibia is experiencing a numerous amount of challenges in their

education system, inadequate infrastructure is one of the main challenges.
Inadequate infrastructure can be defined as a situation where the existing physical or
social systems are poorly designed to meet the needs of the society. It can include
several aspects such as water supply, transportation or even communication.

Classroom shortages, lack of facilities and accessibility are some major aspects of
inadequate infrastructure faced in Namibia’s education system. In the opening
statement of a New Era Newspaper article published on the 12th of January 2023,
states that, “Learners from Izimwe Primary School in Zambezi were in for a shock on
the first day of the school year, as the dilapidated tent in which they were taught was
no longer in use, hence a tree awaited them as a classroom.” This statement already
proves that there is a major problem of classroom shortages. It also states that the
learners are now going to be taught under a tree but that does not excuse the fact
that they did not have a proper classroom in the past, but instead they were just in a
tent.

Poor infrastructure can have multiple causes with insufficient funding being the main
one. Insufficient funding refers to an inability to invest in what is needed for students.
Namibian schools that experience insufficient funding usually have little to no
textbooks, not enough classrooms to accommodate every childs and not enough
resources to supply the area where they are needed. This has negative effects on
both learners and teachers. For the learners it does not only affect their academic
performance but also it infringes their right to education, as well as the rights to
safety and health.

Solutions to these challenges would have to be an investment in infrastructure. This

is where the government can allocate more funds to improve the infrastructure.
There is an article written by The Namibian, which was published on the 9th of
March 2022. It is published with the title, “N$2.5 billion needed for 4479 classrooms.”
This article is a great example of the funding. If the government can allocate the 2.5
billion and build the 4479 classrooms, it will prevent learners from having to learn in
tents and under a tree. It will also have a positive outcome as the learners will start
to improve in their school work as their environment is must more secure.

Taking everything into account, although there are many challenges, poor
infrastructure happens to be a main one. Learners need a more secure place to
learn in order for them to obtain outstanding results but it cannot be done with poor
infrastructure.

(Word Count: 550)