Needy school gets N$100k furniture donation
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
Following an April Namibian Sun expose on the situation at a school on the outskirts of Rundu where learners were taught under a tree and taking notes on the bare ground, a fishing company has come to their rescue with a furniture donation worth N$100 000.
According to Sankara Fishing’s Egidius Nambara, they donated chairs and desks to Siguruguru Primary School following the newspaper article.
“This article touched many of us and we thought it necessary to supplement the efforts of the community by making a meaningful contribution.
“It is from this basis that we at Sankara Fishing are hereby donating these chairs and desks valued at more than N$100 000 to the school, so that our children do not sit on the floor while getting taught but rather have a comfortable chair and desk to help them concentrate on learning.
“We are hopeful that many doors will open and many companies will make contributions to ensure that we support and supplement both government and community efforts.”
Namibian Sun reported in April that apart from the lack of furniture, the school also has no toilet facilities, and both learners and teachers have to head to the nearest bush when nature calls.
Concerned
The school was established in 2018 to accommodate children from the community, and at first only offered pre-primary to grade five.
After government recognised the school in 2020, it extended its offerings to grade six.
Last year, the school had a total enrolment of just 175, but this year, the number has increased by a whopping 200 new learners.
Four corrugated iron structures have been constructed by the community to cater for the learners, but the youngest are taught under a tree.
Teachers expressed concern over the situation at the school.
Currently, only six teachers are employed on a permanent basis, which means the teacher-to-learner ratio stands at one to 62.
Meanwhile, about eight qualified teachers volunteer at the school hoping to be employed by the education ministry to lessen the burden on the permanently recruited teachers.
Tussle
Lack of resources is another challenge the teachers have lamented, saying they are left with no choice but to rely on the little they have.
At break time, learners are forced to buy food before resuming classes as the school doesn’t benefit from government’s school-feeding programme.
This was confirmed by Kavango East education director Fanuel Kapapero, who said the school was not included in the 15-day statistics for 2020, which is why it doesn’t benefit.
When asked whether the ministry plans to construct permanent structures at the school, Kapapero said there exists a tussle between the local authority and the community over the land.
[email protected]
RUNDU
Following an April Namibian Sun expose on the situation at a school on the outskirts of Rundu where learners were taught under a tree and taking notes on the bare ground, a fishing company has come to their rescue with a furniture donation worth N$100 000.
According to Sankara Fishing’s Egidius Nambara, they donated chairs and desks to Siguruguru Primary School following the newspaper article.
“This article touched many of us and we thought it necessary to supplement the efforts of the community by making a meaningful contribution.
“It is from this basis that we at Sankara Fishing are hereby donating these chairs and desks valued at more than N$100 000 to the school, so that our children do not sit on the floor while getting taught but rather have a comfortable chair and desk to help them concentrate on learning.
“We are hopeful that many doors will open and many companies will make contributions to ensure that we support and supplement both government and community efforts.”
Namibian Sun reported in April that apart from the lack of furniture, the school also has no toilet facilities, and both learners and teachers have to head to the nearest bush when nature calls.
Concerned
The school was established in 2018 to accommodate children from the community, and at first only offered pre-primary to grade five.
After government recognised the school in 2020, it extended its offerings to grade six.
Last year, the school had a total enrolment of just 175, but this year, the number has increased by a whopping 200 new learners.
Four corrugated iron structures have been constructed by the community to cater for the learners, but the youngest are taught under a tree.
Teachers expressed concern over the situation at the school.
Currently, only six teachers are employed on a permanent basis, which means the teacher-to-learner ratio stands at one to 62.
Meanwhile, about eight qualified teachers volunteer at the school hoping to be employed by the education ministry to lessen the burden on the permanently recruited teachers.
Tussle
Lack of resources is another challenge the teachers have lamented, saying they are left with no choice but to rely on the little they have.
At break time, learners are forced to buy food before resuming classes as the school doesn’t benefit from government’s school-feeding programme.
This was confirmed by Kavango East education director Fanuel Kapapero, who said the school was not included in the 15-day statistics for 2020, which is why it doesn’t benefit.
When asked whether the ministry plans to construct permanent structures at the school, Kapapero said there exists a tussle between the local authority and the community over the land.
[email protected]
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