Ministry reintegrates 425 street children into schools
Challenges persist
The gender ministry says 425 children who had been living and working on the streets in Namibian urban areas were reintegrated into schools ahead of the 2025 academic year.The announcement came during a three-day workshop in Windhoek last week on the National Strategy for Children Living and Working on the Streets.
By the time of the workshop, only two of Namibia’s 14 regions had recorded measurable progress, the ministry confirmed.
In Hardap, the Back-to-School Project placed 145 children in nine schools in Mariental.
In Khomas, the After School Centre Programme reintegrated 280 children, most of whom were enrolled in boarding schools outside Windhoek.
Business unusual
The ministry described its approach as “business unusual,” noting that each region was expected to design its own action plan rather than rely on a blanket national model.
To support retention, the gender ministry, in partnership with the education ministry, provided psychosocial services, uniforms, stationery, toiletries and transportation.
The ministry said teachers were initially hesitant but eventually adapted.
“They soon recognised that these were children like any other learners, with the only difference being more critical social circumstances,” the ministry noted.
Evidence from Mariental suggests that the model is working effectively, with most of the children placed since 2022 still in school. Moreover, three have progressed to Grade 11, and one is enrolled in AS Level this year.
Despite the gains, the gender ministry acknowledged that challenges persist, including limited budgets, staff shortages, and a heavy reliance on community volunteers who receive no stipends.
While Khomas and Hardap have led the way, other regions, such as Omaheke, are still finalising their plans.
Rehabilitation centre
Looking ahead, the ministry is committed to opening a rehabilitation centre for vulnerable children at Farm Kaukurus in 2026, with boys expected to start in February and girls in April.
Each intake group is set to undergo a 12-week rehabilitation and therapeutic programme.
Meanwhile, a national study scheduled for 2025/26 is expected to investigate the root causes that lead children into street life in Erongo, Khomas, Kavango East and Omaheke.
Factors already identified include poverty, family breakdown, substance abuse, neglect, lack of transport and bullying.
The ministry acknowledged that scaling up nationwide will require more resources, more substantial involvement of local authorities and urgent measures to prevent children from slipping back onto the streets.