Nakayale Private Academy is not a school. It is a living, growing experiment of possibility and an incubator of hope. With a particular emphasis on vulnerable children, Nakayale provides full scholarships for children from grades 0 to 7 from marginalised communities.
After opening its doors in 2016, Nakayale continues to educate and equip Namibian children with academic, leadership, and business skills to unleash their talents and reach their full potential.
Nakayale is a unique institution and the only facility in a remote region of Namibia to take seriously neglected children without access to education, healthcare, clean water, and proper feeding.
The school provides them with boarding and lodging, clothing, medical care, sports training, art and music, and exposure to the world beyond their village.
Enrollment is 100 percent free of charge, and learners are exposed to the highest standard of education.
At Nakayale Private Academy, education is more than just a lesson—it promises a better
tomorrow.
Based on merit and economic criteria, only students recruited, verified, and selected through Nakayale Private Academy’s selection process and residing within the specified geographic regions are eligible for economic scholarships each year.
The education system used at Nakayale is based on the learner-centred, rotation learning model, with one teacher per 15-20 children in a class, allowing for continuous student-teacher engagement. The programme was developed and adapted for the specific context of these children, such as a complete lack of comprehension of the English language and no form of preschool exposure.
Thanks to the unique system developed for Nakayale, which includes specialised bridging programmes, the children learn basic English reading skills within the first six weeks of enrollment.
Initiatives for education include STEM, PBL, PD workshops, tech integration, the arts, inclusive education, and SEL programs. Our school uses a customised, holistic approach to education that integrates multiple philosophies and focuses on 21st-century skills. We emphasise international standards and benchmarking.
In addition to transforming the lives and creating a future for the children of the school,
communities, and families have been inspired by the substantial transformation that they witness in the children who attend the school.
More importantly, Nakayale Academy for Orphans and Marginalised Children is developing a credible, internationally recognised model for education for marginalised children in rural Africa with a documented, proven record of success. The result is a secondary school certification that is on par with the best in the world.
By training teachers without traditional teaching backgrounds on the job and helping them earn formal teaching qualifications, we change perceptions and show that education can happen in rural areas for marginalized communities.
The effect reaches far beyond the school itself. Nakayale provides support to other teachers in the region who often have to work in isolation, many of them under trees with no learning material or resources. The school also assists where possible with basic physical resources, training, and support.
Extracurricular activities include soccer, volleyball, track and field, debate club, drama club,
chess club, art club, science club, language club, coding and robotics club, environmental club,
agriculture, sewing, cooking, marimba music and more. The school has never had the funds to develop sports
or recreational spaces. An open field is used for ball games, etc.
Our hostel offers a variety of supervised activities such as counselling and support services,
recreational activities, life skills workshops, enrichment programs, homework clubs, and quiet
study time.
Community service outside of the school, volunteer fairs and events, community partnerships,
and hobby-specific programs include dance classes, STEM workshops, crafting, and DIY
workshops.
After school, students engage in various activities such as watching TV, doing homework,
participating in extracurricular activities, reading novels, socialising with friends, telling folktales,
and dancing for relaxation and leisure.
The well-being and safety of students is a top priority for schools. This includes providing a safe
and supportive learning environment, implementing security measures, and implementing
emergency preparedness plans.
133 students have been taught at Nakayale since its inception in 2016.
82 students are currently enrolled at Nakayale Private Academy and boarding school.
1:15-20 is the teacher-to-student ratio in classes at Nakayale Private Academy.
Nakayale has the lowest teacher-to-student ratio in the region, ensuring our learners receive the extra support and personalised attention they need to succeed in school.
A 90% improvement in primary school graduation rates is expected at Nakayale Private Academy, and a 97% improvement in secondary school graduation rates compared to the previous generation.
7% of the parents of Nakayale’s students finished primary school.
3% of the parents Nakayale’s parents finished secondary school.
100% of Nakayale’s students receive holistic support, including all clothing and sanitary products, uniforms, textbooks and other school supplies, safe dormitories, routine medical check-ups, mental health support, clean drinking water, three balanced meals, and two snacks daily.
100% is the transition rate from elementary to middle and high school education
100% is covered by the scholarship that all of Nakayale Private Academy’s students
receive to attend secondary school.
100% of all Nakayale graduates display the ability to manage their home garden and respect the natural environment.