Efundja cancels May recess
Schools in the Omusati Region remain closed because of flooding and pupils may have to give up their May recess to make up for lost time.
Pupils at flooded schools in the Omusati Region have told Namibian Sun that they are willing to sacrifice their winter holiday to catch up with work missed while the schools remain closed.
The learners say they will attend school during the May recess because they are lagging behind with their work.
The Omusati governor, Erginus Endjala, agrees that it is a good idea.
“It is the only way to make up for lost time,” he said in an interview with Namibian Sun.
More than 60 schools in the region – with more than 20 000 pupils - have been closed since 3 March.
It is not yet known when they will be able to reopen, as the education authorities are waiting for the water to subside.
For the past few days it has not rained in Omusati, which has led to a drop in the water levels, but with heavy rain predicted for southern Angola, the possibility of a second seasonal flood wave cannot be ruled out.
A group of pupils from Engolo Combined School described the flooding as a big setback.
“Education is very important to us and we just hope the water level decreases so that we can go to school,” the group collectively said.
They said they were bored at home, with nothing to keep them busy.
“The mahangu fields are under water so we cannot play sports and we cannot even herd livestock for our parents because the grazing is also under water.”
Meanwhile, according to Endjala, the Omusati Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee is monitoring the flooding.
If there was no further rain, schools might reopen sometime next week, Endjala said.
“As you have seen, the water level in the oshanas has subsided and we remain hopeful that it continues to decrease so that our children can return to school,” Endjala said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The learners say they will attend school during the May recess because they are lagging behind with their work.
The Omusati governor, Erginus Endjala, agrees that it is a good idea.
“It is the only way to make up for lost time,” he said in an interview with Namibian Sun.
More than 60 schools in the region – with more than 20 000 pupils - have been closed since 3 March.
It is not yet known when they will be able to reopen, as the education authorities are waiting for the water to subside.
For the past few days it has not rained in Omusati, which has led to a drop in the water levels, but with heavy rain predicted for southern Angola, the possibility of a second seasonal flood wave cannot be ruled out.
A group of pupils from Engolo Combined School described the flooding as a big setback.
“Education is very important to us and we just hope the water level decreases so that we can go to school,” the group collectively said.
They said they were bored at home, with nothing to keep them busy.
“The mahangu fields are under water so we cannot play sports and we cannot even herd livestock for our parents because the grazing is also under water.”
Meanwhile, according to Endjala, the Omusati Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee is monitoring the flooding.
If there was no further rain, schools might reopen sometime next week, Endjala said.
“As you have seen, the water level in the oshanas has subsided and we remain hopeful that it continues to decrease so that our children can return to school,” Endjala said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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