Fransfontein hostel: Ministry steps in
The education ministry has started with smaller renovations at a dilapidated school hostel in the Kunene Region, but a major revamp is in the pipeline.
Kunene education officials have jumped into action after slum-like living conditions at a Khorixas school hostel came to light this month, vowing to render assistance to the school urgently where possible.
In line with this, the ministry also requested ministry of health officials to visit the dilapidated hostel facilities at the Frans Frederick primary school to assess whether it is a health hazard for boarders.
“The ministry is aware of the deplorable conditions at the Fransfontein hostel, home to Frans Frederick primary school boarders,” permanent secretary of education Sanet Steenkamp told Namibian Sun.
She said the conditions were “unacceptable and the hostel's current state offers a harsh [view of the] sad reality [faced] in some regions in which our learners live whilst receiving an education.”
She said in the ministry's opinion, the standard of accommodation facilities for “both teachers and learners have a huge effect on delivery and performances.”
Steenkamp however added that contrary to a statement from the school that the ministry had not supplied mattresses to the school for at least three to four years, new beds and mattresses were provided last year. These were “found in the storerooms and a directive was issued to the school to distribute the said items to the boarders immediately.”
Namibian Sun was informed yesterday that principal Naftalie Goraseb, who stated that no new mattresses were supplied and that many parents were too poor to supply them to their children, was attending meetings in Outjo.
He could not be reached for comment on his phone nor did he respond to an SMS sent to him to clarify the issue by the time of going to print.
Steenkamp explained that when conditions at the hostel came to the education ministry's attention, a delegation of regional education officials visited the school on Friday last week to “verify conditions, investigate and to render possible assistance to the school.”
Preliminary investigations found that the hostel has four blocks, two of which have been dormant for almost 10 years and two that currently accommodate the girls and boys.
The inspectors found that the two blocks in use required major renovations on ceilings, roofs, floors, doors and windows.
In contrast, the two unoccupied dorms required only minor renovations and would cost less to upgrade.
She said while the situation is being assessed, minor renovations have started but major renovations are in the pipeline.
Money and collaboration
Steenkamp also noted that the conditions at the hostel are “certainly not an isolated case and the ministry acknowledges that more funding should be allocated towards our infrastructures that are in a dilapidated state.”
She said the Outjo secondary school's girls' hostel and the Opuwo primary school hostel and many others need attention, and that the 2018 budget makes provision for N$2 million more for renovations and maintenance of infrastructure.
“For 2017, the ministry allocated N$53 million for renovations to the regions, whereas in 2018, N$55 million has been allocated to address the issues of maintenance and renovations.”
Steenkamp said that the responsibility for the administration of government infrastructures should be a “collaborative and collective effort from the ministry, regional councils, hostel staff, learners, parents and the community.”
She said this was demonstrated by parents, community members and the settlement office “who through their own initiative provided assistance in fixing and replacing windows, doors and leaking water.”
She said the regional management under the regional councils must “clearly assess the levels of renovations and with funds collected, work towards creating a continuous enabling learning environment for all our learners, be it in the classrooms or hostels.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
In line with this, the ministry also requested ministry of health officials to visit the dilapidated hostel facilities at the Frans Frederick primary school to assess whether it is a health hazard for boarders.
“The ministry is aware of the deplorable conditions at the Fransfontein hostel, home to Frans Frederick primary school boarders,” permanent secretary of education Sanet Steenkamp told Namibian Sun.
She said the conditions were “unacceptable and the hostel's current state offers a harsh [view of the] sad reality [faced] in some regions in which our learners live whilst receiving an education.”
She said in the ministry's opinion, the standard of accommodation facilities for “both teachers and learners have a huge effect on delivery and performances.”
Steenkamp however added that contrary to a statement from the school that the ministry had not supplied mattresses to the school for at least three to four years, new beds and mattresses were provided last year. These were “found in the storerooms and a directive was issued to the school to distribute the said items to the boarders immediately.”
Namibian Sun was informed yesterday that principal Naftalie Goraseb, who stated that no new mattresses were supplied and that many parents were too poor to supply them to their children, was attending meetings in Outjo.
He could not be reached for comment on his phone nor did he respond to an SMS sent to him to clarify the issue by the time of going to print.
Steenkamp explained that when conditions at the hostel came to the education ministry's attention, a delegation of regional education officials visited the school on Friday last week to “verify conditions, investigate and to render possible assistance to the school.”
Preliminary investigations found that the hostel has four blocks, two of which have been dormant for almost 10 years and two that currently accommodate the girls and boys.
The inspectors found that the two blocks in use required major renovations on ceilings, roofs, floors, doors and windows.
In contrast, the two unoccupied dorms required only minor renovations and would cost less to upgrade.
She said while the situation is being assessed, minor renovations have started but major renovations are in the pipeline.
Money and collaboration
Steenkamp also noted that the conditions at the hostel are “certainly not an isolated case and the ministry acknowledges that more funding should be allocated towards our infrastructures that are in a dilapidated state.”
She said the Outjo secondary school's girls' hostel and the Opuwo primary school hostel and many others need attention, and that the 2018 budget makes provision for N$2 million more for renovations and maintenance of infrastructure.
“For 2017, the ministry allocated N$53 million for renovations to the regions, whereas in 2018, N$55 million has been allocated to address the issues of maintenance and renovations.”
Steenkamp said that the responsibility for the administration of government infrastructures should be a “collaborative and collective effort from the ministry, regional councils, hostel staff, learners, parents and the community.”
She said this was demonstrated by parents, community members and the settlement office “who through their own initiative provided assistance in fixing and replacing windows, doors and leaking water.”
She said the regional management under the regional councils must “clearly assess the levels of renovations and with funds collected, work towards creating a continuous enabling learning environment for all our learners, be it in the classrooms or hostels.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
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