Parents in Kavango East shut school over unsafe conditions
\'These are genuine risks to learners\'
Parents at Gabriel Muhuli Combined School in Kavango East have pulled their children out of classes, demanding urgent repairs to unsafe infrastructure, damaged classrooms, and the lack of basic services such as electricity and clean water.
The boycott, which began last Tuesday, follows a recent storm that tore through tent classrooms as well as an earlier incident in which three learners were injured when water tanks fell on them.
Parents say they will not allow their children back until permanent solutions are provided.
Kavango East regional education director Christine Shilima confirmed that parents had removed learners from the school and acknowledged the severity of the safety concerns.
“Renovation of school blocks and replacement of faulty switches were among the main demands. Some electrical wires are on the ground exposed and the switchboard at the water point also poses danger. These are genuine risks to learners,” Shilima said during her visit to the school.
Genuine concerns
She added that the salty water at the school and delays in emptying septic tanks had long been raised as problems, but the immediate danger was the faulty electrical wiring.
“Even if it were my child, I would not allow them to be in such an environment. For that reason, we have temporarily closed the school until these issues are addressed,” Shilima stated.
She said her office would urgently engage NamWater to prioritise safe water supply to the school and promised to expedite the emptying of the septic tank, which has been delayed due to procurement processes.
While the directorate had provided three tents after the storm damage, Shilima admitted that tents remained vulnerable to strong winds.
“That is beyond our power. The long-term solution lies in proper renovations,” she said.
Temporary fixes
Community members, however, expressed frustration with what they described as government inaction.
Mauritius Ndumba, an older sibling to four learners, criticised officials for offering temporary fixes.
“We do not want tents because they are a temporary measure. Parents want permanent structures. If wind blows now, that tent will be destroyed and we will end up in the hospital,” Ndumba said.
He further questioned why the Ministry of Works and Transport, responsible for construction, was not directly involved in addressing the school’s infrastructure.
“We only want to see construction vehicles on this site. Bringing sand, concrete, and building materials – that is the only way we will allow our children back to school,” he said.
Shambyu Circuit education inspector Blasius Haita said he would relay the parents’ decision to his superiors, while Shilima maintained that classes would only resume once the most dangerous hazards had been fixed.
The boycott, which began last Tuesday, follows a recent storm that tore through tent classrooms as well as an earlier incident in which three learners were injured when water tanks fell on them.
Parents say they will not allow their children back until permanent solutions are provided.
Kavango East regional education director Christine Shilima confirmed that parents had removed learners from the school and acknowledged the severity of the safety concerns.
“Renovation of school blocks and replacement of faulty switches were among the main demands. Some electrical wires are on the ground exposed and the switchboard at the water point also poses danger. These are genuine risks to learners,” Shilima said during her visit to the school.
Genuine concerns
She added that the salty water at the school and delays in emptying septic tanks had long been raised as problems, but the immediate danger was the faulty electrical wiring.
“Even if it were my child, I would not allow them to be in such an environment. For that reason, we have temporarily closed the school until these issues are addressed,” Shilima stated.
She said her office would urgently engage NamWater to prioritise safe water supply to the school and promised to expedite the emptying of the septic tank, which has been delayed due to procurement processes.
While the directorate had provided three tents after the storm damage, Shilima admitted that tents remained vulnerable to strong winds.
“That is beyond our power. The long-term solution lies in proper renovations,” she said.
Temporary fixes
Community members, however, expressed frustration with what they described as government inaction.
Mauritius Ndumba, an older sibling to four learners, criticised officials for offering temporary fixes.
“We do not want tents because they are a temporary measure. Parents want permanent structures. If wind blows now, that tent will be destroyed and we will end up in the hospital,” Ndumba said.
He further questioned why the Ministry of Works and Transport, responsible for construction, was not directly involved in addressing the school’s infrastructure.
“We only want to see construction vehicles on this site. Bringing sand, concrete, and building materials – that is the only way we will allow our children back to school,” he said.
Shambyu Circuit education inspector Blasius Haita said he would relay the parents’ decision to his superiors, while Shilima maintained that classes would only resume once the most dangerous hazards had been fixed.
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