Urgent call for hostel as kids camp near school

Concerned teachers at Ncamagoro Combined School in Kavango West Region and parents are calling on government to build a hostel to accommodate students who are forced to walk up to 20 kilometres each day to attend school.Theresia Mayira, the school’s life skills teacher, told Namibian Sun that the dire situation has left many parents with no choice other than to construct makeshift shelters near the school to eliminate the long and exhausting daily commute. However, as a result, the learners are left unsupervised.“Since the school does not have a hostel and some learners live far from school, most parents have taken the initiative to build shelters for their children around the school to avoid them having to walk long distances every day. With no parents or guardians to look after them, some learners (as young as 16 years old) tend to move in with their boyfriends and girlfriends, which, at the end of the day, leads to things like teenage pregnancies,” she said.Academic impactMayira highlighted the adverse effect of such long commutes on academic performance.Learners arrive at school exhausted, which affects their ability to concentrate and engage in class activities.“This is why some parents have taken matters into their own hands by constructing temporary shelters near the school," she explained.She warned that these shelters, however, are far from ideal and lack the necessary facilities to ensure the learners&#039; comfort and safety."Secondly, these shelters are headed by the learners themselves, some of whom are forced to take care of their younger siblings. The parents only come around from time to time to drop off food and check up on their children,” she said.Basic necessities She added that, since the Kavango West Region is one of the poorest in the country, where many parents and guardians struggle to provide daily meals for their children, the school&#039;s feeding programme plays a crucial role in sustaining many learners.“When the school runs out of food supplies, it results in an increase in absenteeism as learners, hungry and unable to concentrate, are left with no option but to stay home.”To this end, Mayira, along with concerned parents, are appealing to relevant authorities to address this pressing issue by establishing a hostel for learners.Regional educational director, Pontianus Musore, could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.- nikanor@erongo.com.na

Urgent call for hostel as kids camp near school

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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Urgent call for hostel as kids camp near school

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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