Saara inspires top office
Office of the Vice-President offers to support her financially
The Office of the Vice-President has offered financial support to six women, including the 23-year-old Saara Lukas, who returned to school after dropping out ten years ago.
Earlier this year, Namibian Sun ran the story, which highlighted the plight of the six women, prompting the officials to visit Amarika Primary School in the Omusati Region where they are currently enrolled.
The Office of the Vice-President''s development plan for marginalised communities has now offered to give her and another older learner at Amarika Ottillie Johannes a monthly grant of N$500.
The two have already been registered with the government grant scheme, while the other women are still waiting to be registered in order to qualify for the N$500 monthly grant.
Senia Endjala, an economic planner attached to the Office of the Vice-President, told Namibian Sun that she visited Amarika after reading about the plight of the pupils in the newspaper.
“It was a very pitiful situation for these ladies. Their background is not that good and our office decided to assist them. We decided to start with Saara Lukas and Ottillie Johannes who are all orphans and they have children. We just finalised their registration and they have received their grants for September already,” Endjala said.
Saara now, 23, completed her Grade 4 at Amarika in 2005 when she was 12 and discontinued her primary education because the nearest school that offered the next grade, Erastus Shapumba Junior Secondary School in Etilyasa, is about 80km away.
Saara who is an orphan said she had nowhere to go to further her primary education. Her dilemma was further compounded by the fact that the distant school does not have hostels to accommodate learners. Following a visit by the deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President responsible for marginalised people, Royal /Ui/o/oo in July last year, Amarika Primary School was granted immediate curriculum extension approval up to Grade 8.
Johannes, 20, left school in 2006, but she returned to school following advice from her parents when Amarika Primary School was upgraded to offer the other grades. Others who came back are Lydia Ipinge, 19, Josephina Gabriel and Ottillie Jonas, both 17 and Leena Kashenye, 16, and all former learners of Amarika. Otamanzi councillor Johannes Iyambo hailed the Office of the Vice-President saying it has done a wonderful job.
“I tried to register these ladies with the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare grant scheme, but I was told they are too old for that. It is a good thing that the Office of Vice-President stepped in to assist them. They really need assistance to motivate them,” Iyambo said. Amarika Primary School principal Abraham Haukelo said the six ladies have been doing well with their school work throughout the year.
“I really commend the Office of the Vice-President for the job well done. These ladies really need support because they know why they came back to school.”
ILENI NANDJATO
Earlier this year, Namibian Sun ran the story, which highlighted the plight of the six women, prompting the officials to visit Amarika Primary School in the Omusati Region where they are currently enrolled.
The Office of the Vice-President''s development plan for marginalised communities has now offered to give her and another older learner at Amarika Ottillie Johannes a monthly grant of N$500.
The two have already been registered with the government grant scheme, while the other women are still waiting to be registered in order to qualify for the N$500 monthly grant.
Senia Endjala, an economic planner attached to the Office of the Vice-President, told Namibian Sun that she visited Amarika after reading about the plight of the pupils in the newspaper.
“It was a very pitiful situation for these ladies. Their background is not that good and our office decided to assist them. We decided to start with Saara Lukas and Ottillie Johannes who are all orphans and they have children. We just finalised their registration and they have received their grants for September already,” Endjala said.
Saara now, 23, completed her Grade 4 at Amarika in 2005 when she was 12 and discontinued her primary education because the nearest school that offered the next grade, Erastus Shapumba Junior Secondary School in Etilyasa, is about 80km away.
Saara who is an orphan said she had nowhere to go to further her primary education. Her dilemma was further compounded by the fact that the distant school does not have hostels to accommodate learners. Following a visit by the deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President responsible for marginalised people, Royal /Ui/o/oo in July last year, Amarika Primary School was granted immediate curriculum extension approval up to Grade 8.
Johannes, 20, left school in 2006, but she returned to school following advice from her parents when Amarika Primary School was upgraded to offer the other grades. Others who came back are Lydia Ipinge, 19, Josephina Gabriel and Ottillie Jonas, both 17 and Leena Kashenye, 16, and all former learners of Amarika. Otamanzi councillor Johannes Iyambo hailed the Office of the Vice-President saying it has done a wonderful job.
“I tried to register these ladies with the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare grant scheme, but I was told they are too old for that. It is a good thing that the Office of Vice-President stepped in to assist them. They really need assistance to motivate them,” Iyambo said. Amarika Primary School principal Abraham Haukelo said the six ladies have been doing well with their school work throughout the year.
“I really commend the Office of the Vice-President for the job well done. These ladies really need support because they know why they came back to school.”
ILENI NANDJATO
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