Ngcove reportedly still without toilets despite N$1m govt pledge
Months after senior government officials pledged N$1 million for urgent sanitation upgrades at Ngcove Junior Primary School, pupils and teachers say they are still waiting for work to begin.
The school continues to grapple without proper toilets or running water, amid confusion and delays blamed on both the education ministry and the Rundu Vocational Training Centre (RVTC).
Ngcove Junior Primary, which has more than 400 learners, was promised N$1 million in September by education minister Sanet Steenkamp during a visit to Rundu alongside Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare to address the situation, with the project awarded to the RVTC.
However, early last week, the technical training centre said it has yet to receive the necessary funds to start work.
“We are a training institution. If you give us a project, you must provide starting capital,” RVTC manager Lukas Kornelius told Namibian Sun. “Without funds, there’s nothing we can do. We cannot go to a bank to borrow money for a government project.”
The education ministry, meanwhile, said it is ready to pay for work as it progresses but did not clarify why funds were not released earlier.
Kavango East education director Christine Shilima said a team has been sent to assess progress and that payments will be made according to work completed.
“Yes, we are ready to pay as progress is made. We are encouraging RVTC to have funds to do the work. Ask them why they are experiencing financial difficulties,” Shilima said.
Learning times cut
School principal Bernolda Munkand last week underscored the impact of the delays on learners.
“We are still using the same facility. We do not have water. We were provided with three tents, but it is not enough, especially in the heat. We are cutting school periods before one o’clock because of conditions,” she said.
The sanitation project was first announced during a visit in September by Steenkamp and Ngurare, who said the funding would allow for urgent improvements.
Ngurare also highlighted government’s drive to reduce bureaucracy and involve technical and vocational education and training (TVET) trainees in public works to save costs and speed up delivery.
Ngcove Junior Primary, registered in 2019, has lacked adequate sanitation and proper classrooms since opening, leaving pupils exposed to health risks and impacting their education. While both the ministry and RVTC now say work is underway, uncertainty remains over timelines and whether and when the promised upgrades will finally materialise.
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The school continues to grapple without proper toilets or running water, amid confusion and delays blamed on both the education ministry and the Rundu Vocational Training Centre (RVTC).
Ngcove Junior Primary, which has more than 400 learners, was promised N$1 million in September by education minister Sanet Steenkamp during a visit to Rundu alongside Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare to address the situation, with the project awarded to the RVTC.
However, early last week, the technical training centre said it has yet to receive the necessary funds to start work.
“We are a training institution. If you give us a project, you must provide starting capital,” RVTC manager Lukas Kornelius told Namibian Sun. “Without funds, there’s nothing we can do. We cannot go to a bank to borrow money for a government project.”
The education ministry, meanwhile, said it is ready to pay for work as it progresses but did not clarify why funds were not released earlier.
Kavango East education director Christine Shilima said a team has been sent to assess progress and that payments will be made according to work completed.
“Yes, we are ready to pay as progress is made. We are encouraging RVTC to have funds to do the work. Ask them why they are experiencing financial difficulties,” Shilima said.
Learning times cut
School principal Bernolda Munkand last week underscored the impact of the delays on learners.
“We are still using the same facility. We do not have water. We were provided with three tents, but it is not enough, especially in the heat. We are cutting school periods before one o’clock because of conditions,” she said.
The sanitation project was first announced during a visit in September by Steenkamp and Ngurare, who said the funding would allow for urgent improvements.
Ngurare also highlighted government’s drive to reduce bureaucracy and involve technical and vocational education and training (TVET) trainees in public works to save costs and speed up delivery.
Ngcove Junior Primary, registered in 2019, has lacked adequate sanitation and proper classrooms since opening, leaving pupils exposed to health risks and impacting their education. While both the ministry and RVTC now say work is underway, uncertainty remains over timelines and whether and when the promised upgrades will finally materialise.
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