One in five learners at the Oukwandongo Combined School in the Omusati region attend school without a single item of school clothing because their parents or guardians are unable to afford it.
Situated 25km from Outapi, the school has reported a growing need for basic provisions for pupils such as clothes, shoes and sanitary products, as child poverty steadily increases there.
Maria Shambwila, a teacher at the school, said child poverty has significantly worsened over the years as the school population increased.
According to Unicef, poverty has deep and long-lasting impacts on the lives and development of children in Namibia, especially their health and education. If poverty is not addressed at an early age, it is being passed on from generation to generation.
The Oukwandongo Combined School is home to 1 036 learners, of whom over 300 are from impoverished and low-income homesteads.
According to Shambwila, many of the impoverished pupils stay with their grandmothers, while others’ parents are unemployed, and another group of learners are Angolan residents whose parents moved to Namibia in search of a better livelihood.
“We have also noticed that some learners do not receive social grants because they don’t have birth certificates,” she added. She said low incomes present a dire threat to the learners’ education as some do not concentrate in classrooms, which has a significant effect on their ability to learn.
“Many lack concentration and do not participate in the classrooms as they fear being bullied over their worn-out uniforms. As teachers, we try to assist where we can by donating clothing items and money. But we also need an intervention of good Samaritans and other stakeholders,” said the concerned teacher.
Shambwila appealed to the public to assist these learners with sanitary products as well as uniforms.
“This will help improve their confidence, concentration and help them stay in school,” she noted.
When approached for comment, Omusati education director Benny Eiseb said the situation was not reported to him, and warned the public against posting sensitive pictures on social media as it will tarnish the image of the government.
“Poverty is a national issue, and it is not only affecting learners at the Oukwandongo Combined School. Furthermore, there is no budget from the ministry allocated specifically to buy learners school uniforms or sanitary products. So, this is a community issue, not for the government,” he stated.
Those willing to help can contact Shambwila at 0813069172.
– ashikololo@nepc.com.na