Two primary schools in the Onayena constituency of the Oshikoto Region have closed due to critically low enrolment numbers, prompting local leadership to explore innovative community development alternatives.

OkayekEnongo Primary School in Ompugulu village and Ekaha Primary School in Onimwandi village ceased operations following a ministry directive that schools with insufficient student populations must be shuttered.

Onayena Constituency Councillor Mateus Kamati informed Nampa on Tuesday that investigations revealed multiple factors contributing to the enrolment crisis, including parents who send their children to private schools and rural-urban migration, which is the primary driver of the problem.

“Most young people have migrated to the city and other towns for greener pastures, where they have started families and enrolled their children in those schools,” he said.

Kamati noted that plans are therefore underway to transform the schools into vocational training centres and youth development hubs, instead of leaving them to deteriorate.

“If the buildings do not get occupied, they will get old, so for now we have to find people who are good in vocational training programmes to train and equip the youth with the necessary trading skills for a better future,” he stated.

Acting Oshikoto Education Director Thomas Kalimbo said they are aware of the situation at the schools, stressing that moving forward, the directorate will carefully consider requests for new schools to avoid them turning into white elephants.

He added that plans are underway for the construction of primary schools with hostels to accommodate learners from small schools.

“We thank the ministry for its support on this plan because a capital project to establish a new government primary school with a hostel between Onyuulaye and Onkumbula started this financial year (2025/26), with funding from the ministry,” he said.

He further stated that three other primary schools form part of the directorate's plans for the coming years, saying the plan has been submitted to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture for consideration.

The school closures reflect broader demographic shifts affecting rural Namibian communities, where young families increasingly seek opportunities in urban centres, leaving behind ageing populations and struggling local institutions, Kalimbo said.