Auleria Wakudumo

After years of living in makeshift shacks, teachers at Helao Nafidi Combined School in Oshiti shaHaihonya village, Okongo, finally have proper accommodation.

The newly constructed teachers’ house consists of eight bedrooms – four allocated to male teachers and four to female teachers – a kitchen, showers and a sitting room.

Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa said the project was a direct response to challenges she witnessed during her visit to the school with the Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi last year.

“This project is a result of listening to the concerns on the ground and responding with urgency,” she said.

Hamutumwa noted that the initiative reflects what can be achieved through partnership, acknowledging AffluentGen Group (ABT Panel Company) for sponsoring the construction as a pilot project implemented where the need was greatest. She said that the project was completed by a team of six skilled workers and 10 general workers from the local community. “The provision of this accommodation is not merely about infrastructure, but it is about restoring dignity, improving working conditions and ensuring that our teachers are well supported,” she said.

She added that when educators are provided with decent living spaces, they are better positioned to deliver quality education and positively impact the lives of learners.

She added that plans are in place to fence the area and address additional needs, including adding more accommodations.

“Development is a process. We cannot achieve everything at once, but step by step, we will continue to make progress,” she said.

Acting school principal Ndapunikwa Nghipandwa-Haukena described the development as life-changing for teachers who previously lived in makeshift structures.

“The governor saw our situation and understood that it was unbearable. Many young teachers avoided rural postings because of these conditions,” she said.

She said they suffered for years living in zinc facilities.

“We endured harsh weather conditions and lived in constant fear. Now, we can finally say that time is behind us,” she said.

She added that living in such conditions as professionals had been deeply discouraging.

“To call a spade a spade, it was shameful. But today, we feel seen, respected and valued, she added.”

The school accommodates about 600 learners from pre-primary to Grade 10 with plans to expand to Grade 11. It also attracts learners from neighbouring regions such as Oshikoto.

Despite the progress made, challenges remain. The school does not have a proper hostel which forces some learners to stay in tents on the premises, exposing them to dangers such as venomous snakes.

Infrastructure shortages also affect staff, with 22 teachers sharing limited space and no proper staff room. “We only have two storerooms, one for the principal and one for teachers. It is not enough,” the principal said.

She appealed to leaders, businesses and the broader community to assist in addressing the remaining needs.

Meanwhile, Okongo constituency councillor Efraim Shipindo said efforts to uplift rural education are ongoing and will be implemented step by step.

He highlighted that his office has contributed to the school by funding a small boys’ hostel accommodating 10 learners, providing sanitary pads to female learners and donating mattresses.

“Teachers in rural areas must not think they have been neglected. We want to uplift rural education. Although necessities are not yet fully in place, we will surely get there,” he said. –awakudumo@nepc.com.na