School construction stalled
The construction of three classrooms and a storeroom at Oshapwa Primary School in Ongwediva came to a standstill almost a year ago after the construction company ran out of corrugated iron sheets for roofing.
Oshapwa was one of seven schools singled out by Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa during his state of the region address. Kashuupulwa said the building of extra classrooms and teacher housing at these schools started in 2014 but had not yet been completed.
He said he was very disappointed to learn that 23 classrooms and nine houses were incomplete and the contractors had disappeared after abandoning the sites. He added that there was nothing the regional government could do about it.
“Upon inquiry I was reliably informed that these classrooms and houses were monitored and supervised from the head office of the education ministry in Windhoek,” Kashuupulwa said.
This situation is not unique to the Oshana Region. In May Namibian Sun reported on several other incomplete teachers’ houses that formed part of the same project in the Omusati Region.
A source told Namibian Sun that the tendering process of the project was done at the ministry’s head office in Windhoek and that regional and circuit offices and schools were then informed who the contractors were.
This was confirmed by Omusati education director Laban Shapange, who said these projects were in the hands of the head office. He said he had similar concerns and no information was forthcoming from Windhoek.
When contacted, the planning division in the ministry of education was not willing to provide any information on the matter.
At Oshapwa, the project was allegedly abandoned because the contractor could not afford to buy five corrugated iron sheets to complete the roof.
The school principal refused to comment, saying that only the regional office could answer inquiries.
Other schools with incomplete classrooms are Ekwafo Secondary, Ehenye Primary, Eluwa Special School, Etomba Combined, Dr Chief Ankama Primary, Omagano Primary and Onaushe Primary. Teachers’ houses are incomplete at Omapopo, Omulunga, Oshipumbu and Oshekesheka.
ILENI NANDJATO
Oshapwa was one of seven schools singled out by Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa during his state of the region address. Kashuupulwa said the building of extra classrooms and teacher housing at these schools started in 2014 but had not yet been completed.
He said he was very disappointed to learn that 23 classrooms and nine houses were incomplete and the contractors had disappeared after abandoning the sites. He added that there was nothing the regional government could do about it.
“Upon inquiry I was reliably informed that these classrooms and houses were monitored and supervised from the head office of the education ministry in Windhoek,” Kashuupulwa said.
This situation is not unique to the Oshana Region. In May Namibian Sun reported on several other incomplete teachers’ houses that formed part of the same project in the Omusati Region.
A source told Namibian Sun that the tendering process of the project was done at the ministry’s head office in Windhoek and that regional and circuit offices and schools were then informed who the contractors were.
This was confirmed by Omusati education director Laban Shapange, who said these projects were in the hands of the head office. He said he had similar concerns and no information was forthcoming from Windhoek.
When contacted, the planning division in the ministry of education was not willing to provide any information on the matter.
At Oshapwa, the project was allegedly abandoned because the contractor could not afford to buy five corrugated iron sheets to complete the roof.
The school principal refused to comment, saying that only the regional office could answer inquiries.
Other schools with incomplete classrooms are Ekwafo Secondary, Ehenye Primary, Eluwa Special School, Etomba Combined, Dr Chief Ankama Primary, Omagano Primary and Onaushe Primary. Teachers’ houses are incomplete at Omapopo, Omulunga, Oshipumbu and Oshekesheka.
ILENI NANDJATO
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