The remaining 2,600 school pupils who could not find places in government schools all over the country will be in classrooms coming Monday, education minister Nangolo Mbumba announced. Speaking at the opening of the academic year at the Polytechnic in Windhoek on Thursday, Mbumba said a solution was found to enable all those desperate pupils a placing in schools.

"I saw President Hifikepunye Pohamba twice on Tuesday", Mbumba told the audience at the Polytechnic, where he was the guest speaker at the ceremony which was followed by a 3-hour debate on "achieving a knowledge-based society".

On Tuesday morning, Mbumba said, the causes of the shortage of places for the school-goers were discussed: lack of classrooms, desks with chairs, teaching materials, and teachers.

"I was then told to discuss the issue with the ministry of finance. In the afternoon, after a second meeting with President Pohamba, I had the instruction to have all the 2,600 learners in school by Monday and I got the backing of the finance ministry. End of story", Minister Mbumba told the lecturers and students of the Polytechnic, drawing instant applause.

On Monday, President Pohamba said at a meeting with all 24 permanent secretaries, that the situation of the unplaced school children was worrying to him and that this should not be repeated in future.