The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched its annual school outreach programme in the |Khomas Region.

Its Chief Public Relations Officer, Margaret Kalo, said the outreach aims to improve access to essential services while reducing congestion at Home Affairs offices.

The ministry has already covered 23 schools in |Khomas, and this year's outreach programme will cover 55 schools in the region. 

"We are really urging schools to make sure that they are informing parents to make sure that the learners are coming with their birth certificates so that they can use this opportunity to acquire the identity document."

She further highlights that learners are required to present their birth certificates, which are verified before the ministry officials complete the application forms on their behalf to minimise errors.

"After the outreach programme concludes at the schools, the ministry will print the identity documents and return them to the schools for distribution. This way, the schools will serve as a one-stop shop, eliminating the need for individuals to visit the Ministry of Home Affairs to collect their IDs."

Rosewood Academy Executive Director Catherine Sissing said for the past three to four years, officials from the ministry have visited the school on an annual basis to assist learners in applying for national identity documents.

"They need these identification documents so that we can register them properly for their external examination, and because we also offer extra holiday classes and even during afternoons and during weekends we give them the opportunity for classes, it's a really good idea for the visit from Home Affairs."

The outreach programme is part of the ministry's efforts to bring civil registration services closer to communities while ensuring learners are equipped with the necessary documentation for their education.