By Michael Liswaniso
SESFONTEIN
Warmquelle Primary School in Sesfontein has been without water since the beginning of this term after the water pump broke, a situation the school principal Chris Munene says is untenable.
Munene said despite his school having an average pass rate, the current situation might affect the examination results at his school this year.
“We have made attempts to have it repaired but to no good,” he said, adding that technicians from the ministry of works, transport and communication had failed to repair the water pump recently.
At present, the school relies on a natural spring, more than 300 metres away from the school.
“Though natural, it also needs purification but we have no choice. That water is not clean at all,” said one teacher.
Apart from the current water crisis, Munene said, the school has transport problems especially when the learners fall sick.
The school that is located some 23 km on the outskirts of Sesfontein is bordered by two non-perennial rivers. A string of villages with a total of 600 people surrounds the school. It has no clinic.
“Even though this is rare, when some of these non-perennial rivers are full, it means a total cut-off from Sesfontein,” said one community member.
Sesfontein is the constituency hub that boasts a clinic and other services.
Warmquelle school has broken widows in its dilapidated hostel, while learners eat in the open because there is no dining hall.
“We need a big hostel with complete facilities,” said Munene.
The school has a student population of 340, with 320 of them being boarders. Most of their beds are without mattresses and some learners have to sleep on the floor.
Even though malaria cases are not prominent, the place is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Though residents of Sesfontein can access the mobile telecommunication network, this is not so with Warmquelle. The community has no access to both NBC radio and television.