Faith Kavamba

The director general of the National Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, has expressed satisfaction with the progress made at some of the government projects undertaken at schools in the Erongo region. 

Kandjoze last week inspected the renovation and construction carried out at the Erongo schools as part of the government’s Covid-19 response to safeguard the lives of pupils. 

At Swakopmund, Kandjoze visited Tamariskia Primary School and Vrede Rede Primary School where new ablution facilities were constructed, and the old structures renovated. 

He also inspected the renovations at House Namib Hostel at Swakopmund Secondary School. The directorate of education in the Erongo region was allocated N$36 million for the Covid-19 response. 
Of the 53 schools in the region which were prioritised, 24 were in need of the construction of ablution facilities, 18 schools needed their ablution block renovated, five wanted their hostels renovated and nine had requested their kitchen equipment repaired or renovated. 

Although the directorate is making good headway with the projects, with two of them already completed, regional education director Erenfried Stephanus explained they were met with challenges such as the delayed procurement of material due to the lockdown. 
The lack of water in some rural areas also slowed down the projects.  

Erongo did not enjoy any visits in our initial stages of planning. They were not able to participate in our virtual conference. We had no idea how far they had progressed,” Kandjoze said. 
Kandjoze also inspected the renovation of Dibasen Secondary School hostel and the construction site of the new police station in Okombahe. 
He, furthermore, visited Omatjete and inspected the construction of the new police station at the settlement. 

Kandjoze commended the education directorate under the leadership of Stephanus for supporting the local economy, as some of the material and services were procured locally. 

He said he was impressed by the fact that Okongue Primary school is one of the few schools that hired a local supplier to produce bricks on-site, thereby employing cost-cutting measures and ensuring that employment is created for the residents in the community.
He also praised Stephanus for her innovation, pointing out that Erongo was the only region to have also channeled some of its funds into repairing and replacing kitchen equipment at certain school hostels. 

During the inspections, Kandjoze also took the time to have community meetings where residents aired some of their concerns – not only as it pertains to schools but their communities in general. 
The lack of water, electricity and human-wildlife conflict was a recurring theme in areas such as Omatjete, Okongue and Otjohorongo.