Brand new school stands empty

The sewer and water system of a N$39 million government school has stalled the official handover, while teaching continues at a dilapidated old school a few meters from the new facility.
In July 2012 a company named Uukumwe Construction was awarded the tender to complete the construction of the Ongwediva Junior Secondary School project within 18 months.
However, the contract was terminated earlier this year after the contractor failed to complete the project on time following a delay of more than two years.
This week the Ministry of Education repeated the same response it gave five months ago: that the process of appointing a new contractor was still under way.
“Following the termination of the contract, the ministry is currently handling the request for exemption for the project to be submitted to the Tender Board.
“Upon approval, the ministry will advertise the call for tenders as well as conduct an evaluation on progress or outstanding work as well as the cost implications.
“The ministry will inform the nation accordingly upon completion of the project,” Oshana Region education director Hileni Amukana said.
The learners continue learning in classrooms with broken windows, damaged ceilings and roofs that leak during the rainy season.



Although the school does not have electricity, it achieved an 86.7% Grade 10 pass rate last year.
While problems at other schools in the region were highlighted in the Oshana Region State of the Region Address (SORA), nothing was mentioned about the Ongwediva Junior Secondary School.


When Namibian Sun visited the tightly guarded incomplete school, a security guard said no one was allowed on the premises.
Namibian Sun is reliably informed that the project was initiated following pressure from the church that has been leasing its buildings to the school since the 1960s.
According to teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity, they have given up hope of occupying the new school.
“That school was not built for us. It has been too long now, just waiting for something which was supposed to be completed in 2013 and yet we don’t know what is going on,” they complained.
Earlier this year, during a visit to the school by the Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, she expressed disappointment about the poor learning and teaching environment at the current school.
Nghipondoka promised that she would look into the matter and said by the third semester the school would be completed and handed over.
Despite their predicament, the passionate teachers told Namibian Sun that no matter what happens, they will not give up on the learners and will continue teaching.

KENYA KAMBOWE