Omungwelume hostel nearly completed
Omungwelume hostel nearly completed

Omungwelume hostel nearly completed

Ileni Nandjato
The construction of a school community hostel at Omungwelume Senior Secondary School in the Ohangwena Region is at an advanced stage.

School principal George Nanghanda told Namibian Sun he is confident that the hostel will be completed by the end of next month.

According to the report he received from the contractor, and by his own observations, the construction is 70% complete.

The government allocated N$6.4 million for the construction of the hostel, thanks to persistent pressure by the regional governor Usko Nghaamwa. “Construction work is progressing well despite the rainfall. The contractor made an estimation that 70% of the work has been completed and we are so delighted,” Nanghanda said. “Some of the learners are still accommodated at a run-down property bought by the Ohangwena regional council, while others live in the Omungwelume settlement and surrounding areas while the work is finishing. We are hopeful that by the end of next month it will be completed.”

Nghaamwa was irked by learners living in shacks without adult supervision and started raising funds for the community hostel.

The N$7 million project was then supported by the government as a joint venture with the community of Omungwelume. The project consists of hostel blocks that will accommodate 123 girls and 123 boys, a kitchen, ablution facilities, hostel caretakers' accommodation, a boundary wall, a sewer system, fresh water supply and electrification.

Regional works and maintenance is the principal agent of the project and they are maintaining and supervising the work together with the regional directorate of education. Contractors are urged to work faster, but no substandard work will be allowed.

Last June the school, in collaboration with Nghaamwa's office, hosted a fundraising dinner to raise money for the construction of the hostel.

The event raised N$509 100 and 263 bags of cement. These donations complemented the 58 000 bricks delivered to the school by Nghaamwa's office. As of last year, the school had 581 learners in grades 10, 11 and 12. Only 118 were accommodated at a run-down property bought by the Ohangwena regional council.

Concerned parents say Ohangwena is vast and the non-boarding school is taking in learners from all corners of the region – a situation that forces learners to take any available accommodation. Grade 10 learners from as far as Okongo, Epembe and Ekoka rent accommodation at Omungwelume to attend school there.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Namibian Sun 2024-04-20

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