KEETMANSHOOP – //Kharas education director /Awabahe //Hoëseb believes if more stakeholders work together in fighting Covid-19, more time will be available for providing quality education to learners.
“In general, schools and hostels do not have challenges, apart from some parents and learners not adhering to the Covid-19 health protocols and regulations put in place by principals and staff members,” he said in an interview.
According to //Hoëseb, most of the learners in the region have been split into groups of two with alternate days for face-to-face learning to adhere to the health protocols and regulations of maintaining physical distancing in classes as well as ensuring learners receive quality education and attention.
The director said that schools and hostels have received funds to procure sanitizers, masks and liquid soap to ensure compliance to health protocols. He added that the directorate does however need support from parents to educate children on the importance of applying these measures to curb the further spread of the pandemic.
“The teachers and support staff members at schools and hostels cannot do it alone, we need the parents’ support,’’ he emphasised.
In terms of hostel accommodation,
//Hoëseb explained that the directorate experienced a shortage of space for learners lodging in hostels last year after two hostels were gutted in Karasburg.
“Three temporary hostel blocks having proper ablution facilities that can accommodate 64 girls and 128 boys were erected,’’ he continued.
The regional head also said those learners who cannot be accommodated at this stage are staying with relatives and friends of parents and furthermore are provided with meals at hostel premises.
Asked on the availability of ablution and potable water facilities, //Hoëseb explained that non-functioning ablution facilities at 21 hostels budgeted for under the 2020/2021 financial year have been renovated and repaired accordingly.
He added that the challenge faced is that some works were not finished by appointed contractors while some other hostels can only be catered for during the 2021/2022 financial year.
“However, the education directorate and department of works immediately attended to all cases of emergencies reported in order to ensure that the teachers and learners are functioning in safe environments.”
Regarding the placement of learners, he emphasised that all learners who applied for admission were placed in their respective grades.
“In some cases, they were not placed according to parents’ preference, but to avoid overcrowded classrooms. Decisions to place them elsewhere were taken by management in the best interest of learners,” he said. – sklukowski@nepc.com.na