Construction on new private school starts at Ongwediva

SOUTH African private education group Curro is building a private school at Ongwediva, the Oshana Gymnasium Private School, which will also host modern sport facilities.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the new school took place on Tuesday.

Windhoek Gymnasium managing director Colette Rieckert said the school will open its doors for the first intake in January 2024, starting with pre-school to Grade 7, while grades 8 to 12 will be added at a later stage.

The school is a sister campus to other Curro campuses such Windhoek Gymnasium and Walvis Bay Gymnasium Private Schools.

The construction of the school is made possible by Curro, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), Ino Harith Capital and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).

DBN chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi said Curro has proven itself as a sustainable brand with a strong social benefit.

“We then believe that the Oshana Gymnasium Private School will be sustainable and will make variable contributions to the Oshana region by educating future leaders for the region,” Inkumbi said.

“In addition to 160 jobs that will be created and an opportunity for Oshana in national small and medium enterprises to fulfil the needs of Oshana Gymnasium.”

Inkumbi said the DBN had made a substantial long-term investment of N$72,9 million in the project. Ino Harith Capital is contributing N$101 million towards the construction if the school.

“The interest charge is highly competitive. The terms are designed to make the school sustainable. It is important though that the loan be repaid in full with interest,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ongwediva mayor Tarah Shalyefu urged the directors and stakeholders of the school to ensure that they are fully committed to providing pupils with the best facilities, resources and teaching staff.

“This new school will be a haven of knowledge, a place where young minds will be nurtured and developed to become leaders of tomorrow,” Shalyefu said.

Chief executive officer of Curro Cobus Loubser said pupils from Gymnasiums finish school as well-rounded young leaders who do exceptionally well when they go on to universities and embark on their careers.