RUNDU – The circuit inspector of education in the Mukwe circuit has written a letter of demand to the regional council after observing council has failed to resolve their issues in the circuit, especially at Max Makushe secondary school hostel, where sewage continues to mix with clean water due to a malfunctioning plumbing system that has been ongoing since early 2022.
The school’s kitchen facility and sewerage system have synchronously been malfunctioning since early 2022.
Learners at the school continue to be taught under unhygienic conditions, a situation that presents a major health hazard.
The sewage water has also been flowing into the Kavango river, endangering the community that depends on the river.
Apart from Max Makushe secondary school, the Omega, Martin Ndumba and Divundu combined schools’ kitchen facilities, which include cool rooms or freezers, have been out of order since early last year – and it is hard for these schools to store food, especially meat.
According to the directorate of education, since they brought in the demands, the council, on their behalf, appointed an incompetent contractor, who has since failed to do the work.
It is alleged the contractor has pocketed 70% of the tender cost despite the project being incomplete.
Circuit inspector Theofillus Kadhimo, in a recent letter addressed to the regional leadership, described the affairs at the hostels in his circuit as catastrophic and unhygienic, saying the situation is affecting teaching and learning.
“Honourable Damian Maghambayi, it is worth mentioning that this office has engaged the relevant office but to no avail. To begin with, the procurement management unit awarded a tender for Max Makushe secondary school hostel to a contractor who has no skills,” the inspector said.
He further informed the regional council chairperson that Max Makushe secondary school caught fire three times due to wrong connections done by the contractor when they attempted to fix the hostel’s electrical pots and frying pans.
“It must be noted with concern that these occurrences have deviated our attention from teaching and learning; hence, it is worrisome and stressful. It is against this background that we request your office to intervene,’’ Kadhimo noted.
Maghambayi confirmed receipt of the letter, saying he is aware of the situation.
“It is really bad, and I have since then instructed the director of education to immediately terminate the tender and start the process to award a competent contractor,” he said.
The regional council awarded the tender on behalf of the education directorate, which is decentralised to the council.
– jmuyamba@nepc.com.na