OTJIWARONGO – Newly-built Ombili Primary School (PS) at Otjiwarongo was officially inaugurated on Friday by governor of Otjozondjupa region James Uerikua.

Ombili PS is situated in the middle of the Ombili informal settlement at the town, and its construction was funded by the Otjikoto B2Gold Mine at a cost of over N$3 million.

Uerikua, in his statement, said it impresses him to see the B2Gold mine investing millions in the school development and future of the young children residing in the informal settlements at the town. “It is a reality that with education, a peasant farmer’s child can become a medical doctor, a child of a mineworker can become a mine owner, and a farmer’s child can become a president,” he said.

He, therefore, encouraged parents in the region to see to it that their children attend school before anything else.

The governor also called on other private companies in the region to join the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in the development of a Namibian child’s education and future.

 B2Gold Mine managing director Mark Dawe on behalf of the company promised to continue funding the future expansions to be made on Ombili PS.

He said that B2Gold is proud to be associated with the new primary school situated in the informal settlement area at Otjiwarongo where the future mineworkers of the gold mine are likely to come from.

Education director in the Otjozondjupa region Josephine Mutenda on her part thanked the B2Gold Mine for the money spent in constructing the two blocks with eight classrooms and four toilets and also a wire fence around the school.

The school offers grades 1 and 2, and it has a total of 320 learners and eight teachers, she said.

“The school has no principal for now, but my message to you teachers and learners operating here is that vandalism on this school should not happen at all,” she said.

Mutenda said the school is an initiative of the former governor of Otjozondjupa, Otto Ipinge, in 2018. – Nampa