Sawi Hausiku 

The Shambyu Senior Secondary School in Kavango East spends thousands of dollars annually on renting private facilities for school activities, as it does not have a school hall. The school has been without a dedicated hall since its establishment in 1933.

This impacts essential functions such as assemblies, examinations and community meetings.

The school principal, Thadeus Hamutenya, highlighted the matter recently when the Back-to-School Namibia Foundation donated stationery to 1 100 learners.

He said the school currently uses the Don Bosco Hall at the St. Joseph Parish of the Roman Catholic Mission for N$1 000 per day.

“When our grade 11 learners have to write their final examinations, we spend N$58 000 on the hall,” he said.

The principal said with the student population growing every year, the school’s facilities are being stretched to their limit.

“Preparation for the construction of a school hall has begun. We are raising funds with parents and community members to make this project a reality,” he said. Hamutenya said N$600 000 is needed for the construction of the school hall.

They have so far managed to raise N$60 000. He added that the funds which the school receives from government are not sufficient to construct a school hall. He said the resources are needed for other equally important responsibilities.

At the same event, Back-to-School Namibia Foundation president Alicia Dipierri expressed the organisation’s commitment to uplifting and supporting communities. 

The foundation, funded by donors from Poland and Germany, provided each learner with a book, pencil, eraser, ruler and sharpener.

-Nampa