According the education ministry two secondary schools and one primary school, with a total of 65 new classrooms, were completed during the 2015/16 financial year.
In addition, various school facilities were renovated and 270 additional new classrooms were added to various existing schools across the country. A total of 10 two-bedroom teacher houses and 40 bachelor flats for teachers were constructed and completed during the period under review.
Education Minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is hopeful that during 2016/17 more classrooms and facilities would be built. For the coming financial year, Hanse-Himarwa expects to start with the construction of, among others, a combined school at Omakange in Omusati, Shituwa Senior Secondary School in Ohangwena, Ndoro Memorial and Schuckmansburg hostels in Zambezi Region and Vooruitsig in Hardap.
She said these are already out on tender and the Ministry of Works and Transport is working on the evaluation process. Hanse-Himarwa told parliamentarians more of this planned work would go out on tender during the 2016/17 financial year.
She further announced that the ministry also plans to renovate Vaalgras Primary School in //Kharas Region, Tubuses Combined School in Erongo, Ernst Meyer in Omaheke and Linus Shashipapo Secondary School in Kavango West. The ministry will also continue with ongoing works at various other schools.
She indicated these schools were destroyed by strong winds and other natural events, including wear-and-tear. According to the minister, the most of the country’s schools were constructed many years before Independence and have not been maintained. As a result, they are utterly dilapidated and in urgent need of renovation.
In general, she informed parliament that the implementation of capital projects in the ministry has faced numerous challenges. However, she stressed that the ministry is exploring economically viable and sustainable procurement management approaches aimed at expediting the implementation of all its capital projects, while ensuring value-for-money.