THE Kunene is one of several regions that struggle with a severe shortage of teachers, especially in its remote areas.

A spot check by The Namibian in Khorixas revealed that a number of schools have been without teachers in certain subjects since the beginning of the school year in January.

Students at the Welwitschia Junior Secondary School, Braunfels Agriculture High School, and Cornelius Goreseb High School have been without teachers in subjects such as history, languages, mathematics, entrepreneurship and life science.

Grade 12 students at Cornelius Goreseb High Schools have not been taught history since the start of school year after two teachers who taught the subject resigned last year, while Grade 8 pupils at Welwitschia Junior Secondary School are also without some subject teachers.

Welwitschia is in need of six teachers in various subjects.

A principal who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the shortage of teachers must be dealt with urgently.

A Grade 12 student at Khorixas told The Namibian that they had not been given a single lesson in some subjects, such as history, since the beginning of the year.

The director of education in Kunene, Simon Tsuseb, said the shortage is because many people do not want to teach in rural areas and migrate to towns in search of greener pastures.

"Teachers get appointed, but don't turn up at work because they don't want to live in rural areas," Tsuseb said.

He said the inspectors who are in charge of the schools must deal with the problem.

"What are they [inspectors] doing," Tsuseb wanted to know.

To make up for the lost time, Tsuseb suggested that extra classes be conducted once teachers are appointed.

Tsuseb said that the teacher crisis is all over the region and the matter is being dealt with.