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Karibib Private School

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Early in the 1990s, members of the community realised that there was a problem concerning schooling in Karibib. A group of Karibib parents decided to come together to discuss this important issue and to see what they can do about it. On the 5th of December 1991 a meeting was held at the Erongo Blick Hotel with a group of parents (K. van Rensburg; A. Mc Arthur; R. de Greef; J. Louw (Chairman); B. Kolb; D. Whitcombe; C. Whitcombe; H. Foelscher; G. Pretorius; A. Pretorius and G. Hälbich).

Jan Louw, who outlined the problem with schooling in Karibib, opened the meeting. The need to form a “Parents Committee” was stressed, and it was here, that this “Parents Committee” leased the school building from the “Privatschule Karibib”.

The immediate aim was, to initially open the school as a primary school, with the possibility of extending it to cater for high school children to be reviewed at a later date, once the school was open and running.

However, when the school was finally re-opened, it catered for Grades 1–8, including pre-primary pupils.

Hartmut Foelscher and Jan Louw took it upon themselves to collect names of interested people who could and would register their children at the new school in Karibib. The Usakos and Swakopmund residents, as well as local farmers were approached.

Word spread fast about the new school in Karibib, that would offer an education of very high academic and moral standard. The community and the “Parents Committee” gave all their support, and finally the dream to open Karibib Private School took the form of reality. Karibib Private School is especially thankful to Mr Jan Louw, the leader of the movement, for his driving force and determination to make this possible.

Finally, on the 1st January 1993, the new Karibib Private School formally came into being. 12 Staff members were appointed and Mr Chris Sexon was appointed Headmaster. The fist assembly was held on the 12th January 1993 under the guidance of Mr Sexon. Karibib Private School rapidly established a very good reputation for quality education.

In 1996, Mr Sexon left the school and he and his family emigrated to England. Mr K Kemp then became the headmaster from 1996–1998. Mr Kemp retired, and now currently lives with his wife, who was also a teacher at KPS, in Swakopmund.

In 1998, Mr A. Steyn took over the role as acting headmaster until 1999, when Mr Geel was appointed. Unfortunately, due to family circumstances, Mr Geel had to leave us after a year to take care of his mother in Walvisbay.

In the year 2000, Mr N. van Rooyen joined the school as headmaster.

The school was one of the oldest in the country, dating back to 1904 when it was a German medium school. It was to be the first private school to be established in Namibia since independence. Former Deputy Education Minister, Mr. Buddy Wentworth, officially opened it on the 29th April 1993.

The school started off with 110 pupils, of which only 15 were boarders. The school buildings can accommodate a maximum of 300 pupils.

1902

On 1 June 1902, a private school was opened for the children of the workers busy on the railway through Karibib. Missionary Elger was appointed as teacher for a bout 8-10 children. In 1904 a school building was initiated, which was later converted to a hospital for the military due to the Herero uprising. It is assumed, that not unlike all the other schools in the country, schooling was suspended during the uprising.

1907

In December 1905 the district governor of Karibib was informed, that government intended to open a school in Karibib (in the old building of 1904). However, as the building was not available, it was decided in 1906 to construct a new school building, scheduled for completion by end of 1906. Due to construction delays, the Deutsche Schule Karibib was officially opened on 1 April 1907, while schooling started the day after with government teacher Berger and 18 children between 10 and 14 years of age.

In 1910, the school already counted 36 children, in 1911 there were 42, in 1915 the school boasted 69 learners with two teachers, Mr Herlyn and assistant Mrs Heuer.

1915-1986

Converging out of the small family school for the Hälbich clan in Otjimbingwe and the Deutsche Schule Karibib of 1907, and seeing the withdrawal of government funding for the school after World War I, the school continued as a private school proper until 1982 (official newsletter: Der Sonnenspiegel), when the school celebrated its 75th birthday, just to close down for good in 1986.

The school started with 4 classrooms and grew up to 11 classrooms in 1967 with 291 learners, 120 girls and 171 boys. Only then did the school get a new school hall, while the old school buildings were replaced by new modern buildings that included a workshop for woodwork, a home ecology room with sowing and cooking facilities, a school hall with gymnastic apparatus as well as movie theatre equipment, a music room, reception rooms and finally also a language laboratory.