By Michael Liswaniso
OPUWO
Learners of the Okorosave Primary School, some 20 km south of Opuwo, held a peaceful demonstration on Friday morning.
The learners in the company of some teachers, school board members and some traditional councillors marched through Opuwo’s prominent avenue, Mbumbijazo Muharukua, to the teachers’ resource centre that houses the office of regional education director, Kamwi Kabajani, to whom they handed a petition.
Under the leadership of Mberii Kapi, the school board members and learners waved placards that read: “classrooms, classrooms, nothing else but classrooms; since 1955 only two classes and principal’s office” among others.
The petition said the Okorosave community is worried that since 1955, nothing has improved at the school in terms of classrooms.
“We do not have accommodation for teachers. Several letters have been forwarded to the inspector’s office to solve this problem but up until now, no feedback has been given,” read the petition.
The community also charged that they are willing to approach fellow Namibians and non-governmental organisations for help in this regard if the Government is not willing to help.
“This was the first school in the whole Kaokoland district. Why only Okorosave School while other schools have seen different improvements since independence?” said Kapi, who read out the petition.
Kabajani who received the petition said: “Nothing is wrong, it is your democratic right and this simply shows us that you have a passion for a good learning environment and the safety of your children.”
Kabajani also promised to visit the school to discuss the way forward.
Senior traditional councillor, Titus Kahohoi, vowed to demonstrate again should the community be unhappy with the results of the meeting.
Okorosave School boasts two formal classrooms as well as a third informal one built by the community two years ago. It has an enrolment of 150 learners.
Meanwhile, some grades attend classes in the afternoon, forcing some teachers to work double shift.