WINDHOEK – Children admitted to the children’s ward at Katutura State Hospital are not missing any classes, thanks to a hospital school where they learn while recuperating. However, the teachers at the school acknowledge it is not an ideal situation.
“It is not a normal school scenario as these learners have to deal with pressing concerns of their own. Some of the children admitted to the children’s ward do not get presents most of the time so I need to be emotionally available for them as well. My duties go beyond teaching,” teacher Jessica Barendse said.
In the school in the children’s ward some of the 10 enrolled learners are nursing broken legs and arms, and other illnesses. The youngest learner is a three-year-old. Yet Barendse works hard to create a stimulating educational environment for the multi-grade teaching class, which depends on the grade level the children are presently doing.
However, despite being patients the learners do have school outings, in the company of medical practitioners. And when the class cannot visit outside places, they invite guests for class visitations, but sadly not many visitors have been coming. Hence, Barendse says she would like to see more visits from the community for them to see what is happening at the hospital school.
Barendse says she has always had a soft spot for children and that is what prompted her career path although the job does require a strong emotional character, but she took up the challenge.
“You have to be spiritually and emotionally strong. It breaks my heart seeing young children going through such ordeals,” said Barendse
Barendse encourages parents or guardians to bring their children to the hospital school as it is free and children in the hospital must feel free to attend classes.
“Some people are not aware of the hospital school. At times I come across parents who walk past the hospital school not knowing of its existence, which is why every morning I make it my duty to go and check if there are any children admitted to the hospital,” she said.
Barendse further says there is a problem with the language barrier. “It is a challenge to communicate with the younger learners as some of them communicate in their indigenous languages, but I ask nurses to assist me when I am stuck,” said Barendse who plans on learning how to communicate in sign language as well as taking up Braille courses to equip her in cases where she finds herself with a learner facing those related disabilities.