Learners barefoot as deputy minister inaugurates classrooms

The majority of learners at Oduludiya Combined School in the Ohangwena Region attend school barefoot.Deputy education minister Faustina Caley was disheartened to learn this during an official inauguration of a classroom block this week, saying the learners need assistance.“It is obvious, no one can be happy about this. It is an indication of the background of the children, and no child nowadays should go to school barefoot,” she said.“I went through that myself. I can imagine winter time... You will not feel the thorn until later.”According to her, the ministry only provides uniforms to one school in the country as learners from that school come from poor backgrounds.ChallengesHome to 371 learners, Oduludiya Combined School offers pre-primary to grade nine, and 65% of learners walk about five kilometres every day to get to and from school.Principal Justine Shinana confirmed that one of the challenges faced by her learners is the fact that they do not have school shoes, or any shoes at all.“As a principal, I feel bad about this situation, but there is nothing we can do besides calling on Good Samaritans to assist,” she said.Shinana added that most learners come from poor backgrounds and travel long distances, which leads to them being late for classes.Despite these challenges, learners from her school still make to university level, she said.Shoes will come Answering the learners’ plight, Tim Ekandjo - through his initiative Project Never Walk Alone - said the project will be back to donate school shoes to the learners in the region.The project has thus far handed over 8 700 school shoes to learners across the country, he said, adding that he plans to donate 10 000 shoes each year.“We will not rest until every learner in the country has school shoes."

Learners barefoot as deputy minister inaugurates classrooms

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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Learners barefoot as deputy minister inaugurates classrooms

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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