Julia Kamarenga
The ministry of education in the Omaheke region continues to enjoy support from external bodies to provide access to quality education for all. Recently, the Outjenaho group handed over a completed dining hall to the tune of N$2.4 million at the Morukutu Primary School to the ministry of education and the Otjijarua community.
On their part, learners at the school gave a combined sigh of relief at the official handover. “This is long-overdue. The facility will contribute positively to our wellbeing. We will no longer stand in long queues under the sun while waiting for meals. We now have a big facility to use for our activities such as beauty pageants and concerts without being limited to daytime,” said Ngumeritiza Mbazuvara, a grade six learner at the school.
Another learner, Brown Katjerungu, said they previously ate outside under trees and any other shade they could find. “We braved the harsh conditions of Mother Nature. Even when we needed a bowl of warm porridge on a drizzling morning, we had to wait until after the rain, and sometimes skip the meal as it would be time for lessons,” he added.
A representative from the Outjenaho Strahlende Kinder Augen e.V. expressed pride in the joint planning, discussions, selection and construction of the structure to the benefit of the children. She said the use of the structure is not limited to the learners only, but could be used for community meetings too.
At the event, former education director and now chief regional officer of the Omaheke region, Pecka Semba, said their ministry was instrumental in the planning and decision-making regarding the facility.
The ministry continues to make efforts that will empower the education sector to the benefit of the Namibian child. He also encouraged capable parents and community members to contribute and meet government halfway in improving their children’s wellbeing.
Semba further thanked the Outjenaho group for restoring the dignity of the learners at the Morukutu Primary School, and said the group memorialised their names in the history of that community. The ministry will furnish the dining hall.
At the event, the Epukiro Development Forum donated N$8 500 in cash for school development purposes as a means of ploughing back into the community, and called for more pledges from individuals and organisations towards education.