Pause for a moment and consider this: What if these walls could talk? These walls of Namib High School. Namib High School stands as one of Namibia’s oldest schools. Its story began long ago in 1913. Swakopmund was growing quickly. The small school behind the lighthouse was not enough. A new school was needed.
On February 22 1913 the foundation was laid. The building was finished that same year. On October 18 1913 the Städtische Realschule mit Grundschule opened. This translates to Municipal High School with Primary School.
However the school’s journey wasn’t always smooth. World War I forced its closure in 1914 and 1915. Swakopmund was evacuated. When German troops surrendered in 1915 the South African Administration took control. In 1919 it was renamed Swakopmund Primary School. The secondary section moved to new buildings. These buildings now house Namib Primary School.
In 1930 the school became a high school again. It was then called Reformrealgymnasium. German was the language of instruction from its founding. English replaced German in 1947. Yet the school still drew many German and Afrikaans-speaking children. They came from outside town. Students even commuted from Walvis Bay. This was quite a distance. Namib High School became a leading school in South-West Africa.
The opening of the Rössing Uranium Mine in 1976 brought changes. New schools developed along cultural lines. Namib High School once exclusively for white children became a German secondary school. It was named Deutsche Schule Swakopmund. In 1980 it became Deutsche Oberschule Swakopmund.
Namibia gained independence in 1990. Doors opened to all Namibian citizens. The school shifted to English as the main language. German became a required subject. On July 7 1997 the school took its current name. It became Namib High School a nod to the Namib Desert. Swakopmund sits within this desert.
Namib High School has consistently performed well. It ranks among the best schools nationwide. It held 14th place in the national A-level results in both 2012 and 2013.
Today Namib High School has about 640 learners. There are 28 teachers. It continues to uphold its tradition of excellence. The school’s history is a mirror of Swakopmund’s own evolution. From its German colonial roots to its present-day Namibian identity. Namib High School stands proud. It prepares young minds for the future.