The Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Edda Bohn, says platoon and tent schools need more staff following this week's Education Minister announcement on temporary placement solutions.
The ministry says measures will be put in place to ensure the recruitment process starts as soon as possible.
The ministry is implementing alternative measures such as the platoon system and temporary tent classrooms.
However, these interventions require procurement and additional staffing, which may take time.
Speaking to NBC News, Bohn said the ministry remains committed to fulfilling its mandate and ensuring that every child returns to school.
She explained that even temporary solutions are not immediate. The platoon system, which involves splitting school days into shifts, requires the recruitment of additional teachers, a process expected to take between three and four weeks.
"The admission of more learners with the current capacity calls for additional teachers needed by the regions, and teachers have been identified to recruit more teachers. We have the numbers as per the 28th of January, and we are checking those numbers against the 15-day school statistics, and once that is consolidated, that will enable us to make the allocations to get the approvals of the budget that will be communicated by the regions, and the regions will advertise positions, and recruitment should be concluded as soon as possible."
According to Bohn, principals nationwide were instructed to submit data on learners still in need of placement. The consolidated figures indicate that approximately 4000 learners are affected nationally.
The |Khomas, Erongo and Oshana regions are recording the highest number of unplaced learners, largely attributed to rapid population growth and late school registrations.
The platoon system has already been introduced at several schools in Katutura and is reportedly functioning well. However, Bohn stressed that the measure is not a permanent solution.
As part of a long-term response, the Ministry is also identifying land for the construction of new schools to address capacity shortages. She noted that the cohort of children born in 2020 has increased significantly, placing additional strain on the education system.
The most affected groups are Grade 1 learners and Grade 8 and AS Level students requiring placement in formal high schools.
To address the latter, Bohn said the ministry is in discussions with the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) to accommodate first-time AS-level learners at its centres.