Ohangwena schools bursting at the seams

Ohangwena schools bursting at the seamsAcute shortage of hostel accommodation Regional education authorities are struggling to place all the newly promoted Grade 11 learners in Ohangwena. The Ohangwena regional education directorate still faces challenges when it comes to allocating Grade 11 learners places in the region.

The regional education director, Isack Hamatwi, told Namibian Sun that schools in the region would remain very full, as the directorate had to squeeze pupils in again this year.

Last year the region had overcrowded schools and Hamatwi said this year they had over 3 300 local learners who were promoted to Grade 11, compared to 3 000 last year.

“The placement has been finalised but we still have a few learners we have to attend to. We have a lot of pupils who will not be in hostels due to a lack of space. This is due to the good Grade 10 performance we see every year,” Hamatwi said.

He said there was a huge shortage of hostel facilities, especially at Ongha, Ondobe, Omungwelume, Endola, Eenhana and Okongo.

Last year the region experienced a setback when a hostel block at Oshela Secondary School at Okongo caught fire because of a radio illegally connected to exposed wires.

He said this facility had not yet been repaired, but the education ministry had made money available.

“We sent a report to the permanent secretary with a cost analysis based on the bill of quantities performed by our directorate of works and they responded positively. They gave us feedback that they made N$1.5 million available to renovate the hostel,” Hamwati said.

He said that for now the directorate had to follow the procurement procedures and they expected renovations to start by February and be completed by May or June.

He said since the entire block consisting of two wings would be renovated, a large number of learners at Oshela would be without hostel accommodation for the duration.

ILENI NANDJATO