Interview: NANSO Raises Alarm Over Inequality and Neglect in Government Schools

 The National Students Organization (NANSO) has voiced serious concerns about the unequal distribution of resources and lack of timely interventions in Namibia’s public schools. Dorthea Nangola, NANSO President, said the education system’s current approach leaves many schools struggling, particularly as national exam results are only analysed mid-year — too late to address urgent problems before exams.

Nangola highlighted issues uncovered during NANSO’s Access to Education campaign, including discipline problems, inadequate teacher commitment, poor infrastructure, and insufficient learning materials. “There is a very concerning inequality between government schools,” she said, citing Windhoek High School’s resources compared to schools like Immanuel Shifidi or Sarasungu Combined School in Kavango East, where learners sometimes lack basic furniture.

She also criticized the practice of grouping top-performing learners separately, which leads to focused support for those classes while lower-performing students are largely abandoned. “Schools perceived as top-performing get all the resources and intervention, while others are neglected,” Nangola added.

NANSO has submitted multiple reports calling for government action but says little has been done. “The schools that are poor performing continue to perform poorly,” she lamented, urging the Ministry of Education to develop and implement clear strategies for balancing resources and deploying top teachers to under-resourced schools.

Nangola further raised concerns about substance abuse among learners, including vaping, particularly in Windhoek schools. “The issue is complex and requires more than just promises — it needs real strategies and follow-through to ensure all schools have equal opportunities to succeed.”