Namibia: Lack of parental support leads to over 100,000 children out of school - report

Windhoek - More than 100 000 children are not attending school in Namibia, despite primary and secondary education being free, according to a study, The Namibian reports. According to an out-of-school study released by the education ministry, at least 103 768 children were currently not attending classes across the country.
In addition, the study also indicated that approximately 99 200 pupils were at risk of dropping out of school in the southern African country. The report, released in collaboration with Unicef and the Unesco Institute for Statistics, highlighted the lack of parental support plaguing children of school-going age, as well as disability, grade repetition and lack of access to sanitation and electricity, as some of the reasons for the "startling out-of-school figures".

The statistics followed on from a directive issued by government granting free access to education for all scholars attending public secondary schools from the beginning of 2016. The order stemmed from a 2012 resolution granting free access to primary level pupils attending public schools in Namibia, New Era reported.

 As a remedy to issues affecting the education of youths in the country, compilers of the study recommended that early grades be taught closer to home, while a larger focus be set on sex education so as to reduce rates of learner pregnancy.