Bread delay caused pupil food hunt

The Rundu Secondary School hostel management has dismissed claims it had sent hungry learners to look for food in the surrounding communities.

It was instead revealed that the pupils had requested permission to do this, after a bread delivery delay, which was granted.

This follows a media report that claimed the learners, who it was alleged normally go to bed with empty stomachs, were sent to look for food recently. Hostel superintendent Peter Mberema refuted the claims.

He said the bread shortage situation was the result of a delivery delay.

“There is nothing like a shortage of food at our hostel. There was just a delay in the delivery of bread by the contractor. The learners went on to have all their meals that day, to date,” Mberema said.

He explained it was not the hostel's idea to have the learners look for food elsewhere.

He said permission had been requested by the learners, who felt that eating soft porridge alone was not satisfactory. “That same Saturday morning the learners were served their normal soft porridge, but there was no bread. They then came to me and asked for permission to go out for a specific time, which I granted,” Mberema said.

He said the hostel accommodates about 437 learners who are expected to pay a fee of N$200 per semester.

KENYA KAMBOWE