The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, says rural-to-urban migration is one of the key contributors to overcrowded schools in urban areas.

Steenkamp remarked on this during her visit to various schools in Swakopmund.

Steenkamp explained that the Erongo Region attracts a large number of people from rural areas in search of greener pastures.

She noted that the reality on the ground is often different, as many people struggle to find employment and a stable income.

For families, leaving children is not an option, resulting in more learner enrolment in already stretched urban schools.

Steenkamp called for the strengthening of decentralisation and increased investment in rural communities.

"That regrettably is the reality we have got: rural schools that are standing empty. You can go to Oshikoto, where some schools are standing empty due to migration. However, if we strengthen decentralisation and improve processes, along with increasing investment in interior areas, people would be less likely to move elsewhere for work because they would find sustainability right where they are."

The Erongo Education Director, Eranfride Stephanus, shared the minister's sentiment.

"We can develop rural areas, ensuring that our schools meet the same standards as urban schools; some rural schools are already performing better than urban ones. The key issue is providing hostel facilities to accommodate learners in rural areas, which would help prevent the influx of students moving to urban areas."