Parents, community members in Onanghulo village and surrounding areas with children at Onanghulo Combined School in Ongha circuit have raised over N$600 000 to construct two hostel blocks.
This is a direct joint response to learners’ plight, as they are always forced out of school for months due to seasonal floods.
“We have done everything we could as parents and as a community,” said school principal Sedekia Udjombala.
“These hostels are not a luxury. They are a necessity. When floods come, learning stops. With these hostels, learning can continue,” he stated.
Udjombala said the aim is to accommodate learners before the next flood season, ensuring that teaching and learning are not interrupted yet again.
“We are now calling on the business community, small and medium enterprises and well-wishers to meet us halfway. What we need urgently are beds, mattresses and paint so that we can move learners in as soon as possible,” he said.
The school, which accommodates more than 1 000 learners, is in an area that becomes inaccessible when floods strike, sometimes forcing the institution to close for up to three months at a time.
During such periods, learners remain at home, fall behind academically, and struggle to catch up with the syllabus once classes resume.
Frustrated by the recurring disruptions and their impact on learners’ futures, parents, community members and the school took matters into their own hands.
Between 2023 and 2025, they mobilised resources through fundraising initiatives and contributions, eventually raising enough funds to build two hostel blocks, each accommodating 80 learners, one for boys and one for girls.
Construction was completed in 2025, with the buildings now fully roofed and fitted with windows.
However, the hostels remain empty due to a lack of beds, mattresses and paint, prompting the school to appeal for further assistance.
In addition to the hostels, parents also raised funds to construct a school kitchen, which is already complete and equipped with gas stoves and cylinders.
The kitchen will cater for learners staying in hostels, although the school is still in need of large cooking pots.
Despite years of disruption caused by flooding, Onanghulo Combined School has maintained an exceptional academic record, a fact Udjombala attributes to the commitment of both teachers and learners.
“Our teachers work tirelessly,” Udjombala said.
He noted that, while recent Grade 11 national examination results were affected by prolonged flooding, learners still performed to the best of their ability under extremely challenging circumstances.
“The floods really took a toll, but the effort from both teachers and learners was remarkable,” he added.
“This is a community that has shown commitment. All we are asking now is for others to come on board and help us give these children a fair chance,” the headmaster appealed.
Udjombala can be reached on +264 81 4477555.