GUINAS – Pupils in the Guinas constituency of the Oshikoto region are dropping out of school at an alarming rate, particularly those from Grades 5 to 10. When New Era visited the constituency last week, parents expressed concern over the high number of school dropouts, resulting in many pupils roaming the streets.
The Guinas constituency has a large San population since time immemorial.
These families rely on the government’s drought relief food and farmwork for survival, and most do not have proper shelter to call home.
Jacob Kaiseb, a member of the school board at Ondera Combined School, told New Era that the lack of hostels is contributing to the high dropout rates.
“We also face the challenge of high teenage pregnancies in our area.
Girls are dropping out of school after falling pregnant,” he said.
Kaiseb urged the ministry of education to build a hostel at Ondera Combined School, which he believes would motivate pupils to stay in school.
Last week at Oshivelo, some school dropouts shared their reasons for leaving school.
Casualties
Saxaries Goseb, who dropped out in Grade 9, said “I left school because I didn’t have anyone to support me.”
Meanwhile, 72-year-old Anna Goses emphasised that cultural influences also play a role in children dropping out of school. “We are getting older, and we need our children to support us at home,” she said. Approached for comment, Oshikoto education director Aletta Eises said she had attempted to arrange a meeting with traditional leaders in the constituency, but they have been uncooperative.
“I have been trying since 2019, but I have not succeeded. It’s not easy at all,” she stated. Eises noted that there are two schools with hostels in the Guinas constituency, and Ondera Combined School has a feeding programme which caters for all learners.
“We have seen high dropout rates in the Guinas constituency. San pupils are reluctant to stay in school. My office has tried,” she said.
She also mentioned that some learners had been enrolled at Tsumeb Secondary School. But after a break, they did not return to school.
“They left school. We tried to trace them, but we were unsuccessful,” she added. The director emphasised that the only solution to keeping learners in school is for parents, traditional leaders and her office to meet and discuss how to support San pupils. “Education is important for every Namibian child. Children should go to school,” she stressed.
Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi said his region was facing a similar issue with San children dropping out of school, particularly in the Omundaungilo and Okongo constituencies. “Whether there is a hostel or not, San learners still drop out of school. It is a big challenge,” he observed.
-fhamalwa@nepc.com.na