KATERE - Linus Shashipapo Secondary School in Kavango East which was in a state of advanced disrepair a few years ago, has been revamped and received additional facilities through a major renovation which started in 2020.
Media reports led to the government prioritising to fix the school as they highlighted the community outcry on the then dilapidated school.
It was unsuitable for learning as ceilings constantly fell in classes and buildings and ablution facilities were deteriorating since long back with the situation being reported to the regional education office as far back as 2004.
“We are here today to officially receive three new hostel blocks, three new classrooms, one new science laboratory, five new storerooms, one administration block, two new ablution blocks, a new kitchen and dining hall, one new multipurpose hall, one matrons’ quarter with sickbay and childcare,” said the education minister, Anna Nghipondoka, at the official handover.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and other partners make the renovations and construction of new facilities possible.
The school also received new teachers’ accommodation, three two-bedroom houses, new kitchen staff accommodation, one new laundry block, one new service block and one new guard house.
“Apart from the newly constructed facilities, we are also receiving 12 renovated classrooms, 16 hostel blocks, three three-bedroom teachers’ houses and two storerooms. All these facilities and other accessories cost over N$102 million,” the minister noted.
Nghipondoka further noted that the collaboration with development partners like AfDB, private entities and individuals alike, is profoundly encouraged by the ministry through its Friends of Education in Namibia Special Initiative (FENSI).
“To accelerate the education infrastructure development, the ministry of education has developed an Accelerated Infrastructure Development Plan (AIDEP) in 2021, which breaks down the current infrastructure shortages,’’ she said.
The minister further indicated that the ministry, through FENSI, has secured assistance from an architectural company to come up with standard drawings for different allocations of infrastructure in Namibia, with the purpose to cut down on the duration of project cycles and the cost.
“The ministry has also applied to the Ministry of Finance for the registration of a PPP project, through which private sector involvement might be secured to enable us to do bulk construction, of especially classrooms and hostels,’’ she said.
Nghipondoka took the opportunity before cutting the ribbon, to tell the learners, staff, management, community, regional leadership and all stakeholders, to guard the beautiful facilities against vandalism and destruction. Linus Shashipapo Secondary School was established in 1974 and named after the then-traditional leader, hompa Linus Shashipapo of the VaGciriku tribe.
“I would like these facilities to stand the test of time for many more years ahead,’’ she said.