Sawi Hausiku 

RUNDU – Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha and his investigators recently visited the Ndama East Primary School in Rundu, where learners are taught under trees.
The school was established by community members in 2022. 

It cannot accommodate all 630 students and 15 volunteer teachers.  Learners are taught under 13 big trees around the school, made up of three corrugated iron sheet classrooms.
Chief complaint investigator in the Office of the Ombudsman Utjitiraije Mberirua told Nampa that their visit to the school was prompted by complaints from the Ndama East community.

The community is not happy that education continues to take place under trees, and at times during harsh weather conditions.
“As the Office of the Ombudsman, we are mandated to see to it that the rights of children are protected. This prompted us to visit the school to familiarise ourselves with the situation on the ground,” Mberirua said.
The investigator said upon arrival at the school, they found learners being taught under trees, with some sitting on the bare ground and others on tree trunks. 

The school also does not have proper chalkboards.  Instead, big metal plates serve as makeshift chalkboards.
The Ndama East community and education ministry have been involved in a dispute for close to three years.

This was after the ministry directed the construction of a school at Ndama South instead of Ndama East as per their initial plan.

Mberirua said officials from the Office of the Ombudsman met with the regional education director and senior officials as well as Kavango East governor, who told them they are ready to build a school at Ndama East, provided the Rundu Town Council provides land.

The director has reportedly been writing letters to the council in this regard, but did not get any response.

“The director assured us during this meeting that the new minister has been informed about the school, and that five teaching posts have been budgeted for. A temporary headmaster will also be appointed while the directorate engages council to provide land to the ministry,” Mberirua added.
A volunteer teacher at the school, Ndara Asser, said they were informed that the ministry was going to erect tents last week. 

However, none of that has happened.

“It’s rainy season now, and classes get disrupted. At times, we are forced to squeeze learners into the corrugated iron classrooms, which are not conducive to learning,” he lamented.
The school is challenged with the availability of water, forcing teachers to carry water in containers from their homes to school every day.

The director of education in the region Christine Shilima told Nampa on Sunday that she is still waiting to hear from the Rundu Town Council (RTC) to grant approval on the availability of land.

“I am not allowed to erect tents on the school premises without approval. Up to now, the RTC has not responded on the issue,” she noted.

Upon enquiry, RTC CEO Olavi Nathanael told Nampa that the land allocation process is underway, and council will communicate its decision to the directorate upon completion of all necessary approvals. -Nampa