Hostel learners survive on N$22 a day

Learners accommodated in hostels across northern Namibia are surviving on a meagre N$22 per day - an amount a parliamentary committee has described as grossly inadequate to meet their nutritional needs, especially in remote regions where food prices are higher.The National Council's Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development found that the rising cost of living has further strained the operations and maintenance of community hostels under the existing subsidy provided by the education ministry.“The hostel subsidy, which remains unrevised at N$22 per learner per day for meals and related needs, is insufficient to meet nutritional requirements, particularly in remote areas where food prices are considerably higher,” the committee said in a report tabled in the National Council this week.The committee urged the ministry to review and adjust the N$22 daily subsidy, introduced in 2008, saying it no longer reflects the current cost of living.“Hostels across all regions have expressed concern that the subsidy is inadequate, noting that a single loaf of bread costs about N$14. The committee further recommends that the maintenance allowance currently granted to private hostels be extended to community hostels to ensure proper upkeep and equitable support,” the report added.Deplorable conditionsThe committee’s oversight visits covered Kunene, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Zambezi, and Otjozondjupa regions. Despite previous recommendations, it found that living conditions in most community hostels remain deplorable.“Learners, especially those from vulnerable and marginalised communities, continue to endure overcrowded, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions, coupled with food insecurity, inadequate sanitation, and deteriorating infrastructure,” the report stated.“Persistent challenges such as unreliable water supply, insufficient meal subsidies, and poor kitchen facilities continue to undermine the health, safety, and educational well-being of learners.”While acknowledging some progress - such as the construction of the Okumbula Combined School hostel and digital initiatives supported by UNICEF and UNESCO - the committee warned that these efforts remain isolated and insufficient.“Hostels such as Kasivi, Aunns, and Berg-Aukhas continue to deteriorate, highlighting the urgent need for targeted funding, maintenance, and accountability,” it said.School feeding challengesThe report further noted that many rural schools operate in areas of deep poverty. Although the School Feeding Programme has had a positive impact on attendance and retention, its implementation is hampered by logistical and resource constraints.“Delays in food deliveries and inadequate storage facilities negatively affect efficiency. In the absence of regular feeding, learner attendance tends to decline,” the report found.The committee recommended that the ministry ensure the consistent provision of balanced, nutritious meals to prevent malnutrition.“The ministry should prioritise a comprehensive review of the National School Feeding Programme to ensure both consistency and nutritional adequacy. Poor kitchen conditions in most community hostels are compounded by a shortage of essential utensils and equipment. The ministry must strengthen coordination mechanisms, ensure timely delivery of food supplies, and improve kitchen infrastructure,” the committee urged.Digital divideThe report also highlighted severe network connectivity challenges affecting rural schools, limiting access to digital learning tools, communication platforms, and administrative coordination.“The absence of reliable mobile and internet coverage affects both teachers and learners, depriving them of opportunities to utilise modern technology,” the committee said.It also flagged systemic weaknesses in the broader education sector, including poor digital infrastructure, limited vocational training opportunities, and policy gaps between secondary and tertiary education.“Engagements with the University of Namibia underscored the need to harmonise admission policies for Grade 11 (NSSCO) learners, strengthen career guidance, accelerate programme accreditation, and align higher education with national development goals under Vision 2030,” the report added.Call for urgent interventionIn conclusion, the committee stressed the need for coordinated and adequately funded interventions to uplift hostel conditions and safeguard learners’ welfare.“The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, working with all relevant stakeholders, must prioritise sustainable infrastructure development,” it stated.Makeshift shelters in Kavango WestLast year, teachers and parents at Ncamagoro Combined School in the Kavango West Region raised similar concerns, appealing for the construction of a hostel to accommodate learners who walk up to 20 kilometres daily to attend school.Life skills teacher Theresia Mayira told Namibian Sun that parents have resorted to building makeshift shelters near the school to spare their children the exhausting commute.“Since the school does not have a hostel and some learners live far away, most parents have built temporary shelters near the school. With no parents or guardians to supervise them, some learners - some as young as 16 - end up living with their boyfriends or girlfriends, which contributes to teenage pregnancies,” she said.Mayira added that the long distances and poor living conditions severely affect academic performance.“Learners arrive at school exhausted, which affects their concentration and participation in class. This is why some parents have taken matters into their own hands by putting up these shelters,” she said, adding that the structures lack basic facilities and pose safety concerns.“These shelters are run by the learners themselves, some of whom also care for their younger siblings. Parents only visit occasionally to drop off food and check on their children,” she said. - nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

Hostel learners survive on N$22 a day

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-07

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Hostel learners survive on N$22 a day

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-07

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