Fixing schools will take years, Kavango East education director says
Kavango East education regional director Christine Shilima admitted last week that resolving the widespread infrastructure crisis of schools in the region, including crumbling classrooms and insufficient bathrooms at overcrowded schools, could take more than five years.
Shilima was responding to questions from Namibian Sun about conditions at schools like Sikanduko Junior Primary School in the Rundu urban constituency, where anger and frustration are mounting among parents, learners and teachers due to the school's deteriorating condition.
The school's dilapidated state was spotlighted earlier this month after heavy rainfall flooded classrooms, forcing many of the school's over 1 000 learners to take lessons outside their leaky classrooms.
In an interview with Namibian Sun last Thursday, Shilima said the region’s overall classroom shortage and infrastructure challenges are long-standing issues that cannot be resolved in a single financial year.
“The network that we need to address is beyond what can be achieved within a 12-month period. It will take us more than five years,” she acknowledged.
Shilima explained that in response to an increase of learners at Sikanduko – both the primary and the nearby secondary school which share some facilities – the ministry is constructing a new senior secondary school with 14 classrooms, valued at roughly N$14 million, which is expected to open during the second semester in a few months.
Grades 8 to 11 will be moved to this new site, freeing up some space.
However, she cautioned that “we cannot say yet how many classrooms will become available, as we first need to complete the relocation.”
Current crisis
Despite this long-term plan, immediate concerns at Sikanduko remain unresolved.
On 10 April, following heavy overnight rainfall, water leaked through the roofs of two classrooms while makeshift walkways collapsed.
The junior primary school, which accommodates 1 058 learners, has only one permanent brick block. The rest of the classrooms consist of temporary structures constructed with corrugated iron.
Another 1 000 learners are accommodated at the combined senior secondary school next door, but learners and teachers share the same toilets because of dilapidated infrastructure.
‘Not fine at all’
Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) chairperson Daniel Katimba, who spoke to Namibian Sun last week, accused the regional directorate of ignoring repeated requests for help.
“We engaged the school management and school board, and wrote letters to the Ministry of Education via the inspector to the director. Up to now, we have not received any response,” he claimed.
He described the current learning environment as “no longer conducive”, adding that some learners are forced to attend lessons outside due to space constraints and run-down infrastructure.
“When it rains, the classrooms are flooded. When it’s hot, the iron structures become unbearable. Teachers are overworked and falling ill, and learners are suffering,” Katimba said.
Sanitation is another major concern, with pupils having to use toilets at a neighbouring school because of a lack of facilities on-site.
“We sent follow-up letters last week asking for the regional planner to visit the school and assess the situation, but no one came. Things are just not fine at all,” Katimba stressed.
Shilima was responding to questions from Namibian Sun about conditions at schools like Sikanduko Junior Primary School in the Rundu urban constituency, where anger and frustration are mounting among parents, learners and teachers due to the school's deteriorating condition.
The school's dilapidated state was spotlighted earlier this month after heavy rainfall flooded classrooms, forcing many of the school's over 1 000 learners to take lessons outside their leaky classrooms.
In an interview with Namibian Sun last Thursday, Shilima said the region’s overall classroom shortage and infrastructure challenges are long-standing issues that cannot be resolved in a single financial year.
“The network that we need to address is beyond what can be achieved within a 12-month period. It will take us more than five years,” she acknowledged.
Shilima explained that in response to an increase of learners at Sikanduko – both the primary and the nearby secondary school which share some facilities – the ministry is constructing a new senior secondary school with 14 classrooms, valued at roughly N$14 million, which is expected to open during the second semester in a few months.
Grades 8 to 11 will be moved to this new site, freeing up some space.
However, she cautioned that “we cannot say yet how many classrooms will become available, as we first need to complete the relocation.”
Current crisis
Despite this long-term plan, immediate concerns at Sikanduko remain unresolved.
On 10 April, following heavy overnight rainfall, water leaked through the roofs of two classrooms while makeshift walkways collapsed.
The junior primary school, which accommodates 1 058 learners, has only one permanent brick block. The rest of the classrooms consist of temporary structures constructed with corrugated iron.
Another 1 000 learners are accommodated at the combined senior secondary school next door, but learners and teachers share the same toilets because of dilapidated infrastructure.
‘Not fine at all’
Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) chairperson Daniel Katimba, who spoke to Namibian Sun last week, accused the regional directorate of ignoring repeated requests for help.
“We engaged the school management and school board, and wrote letters to the Ministry of Education via the inspector to the director. Up to now, we have not received any response,” he claimed.
He described the current learning environment as “no longer conducive”, adding that some learners are forced to attend lessons outside due to space constraints and run-down infrastructure.
“When it rains, the classrooms are flooded. When it’s hot, the iron structures become unbearable. Teachers are overworked and falling ill, and learners are suffering,” Katimba said.
Sanitation is another major concern, with pupils having to use toilets at a neighbouring school because of a lack of facilities on-site.
“We sent follow-up letters last week asking for the regional planner to visit the school and assess the situation, but no one came. Things are just not fine at all,” Katimba stressed.
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