Schools are wasting water

Water and power suspensions at Windhoek schools were put on hold after the Khomas education directorate made a down payment of N$17 million on the N$32 million it owes the City of Windhoek.

But the directorate has slammed the municipality's threat of cutting power and lights, particularly during examinations, and says such a threat should not be used again to address outstanding debt.

Khomas regional education director Gerard Norman Vries told Namibian Sun that the economic crisis and budget cuts affect everyone in Namibia, including the education sector.

He said in an attempt to address the accumulated debt and to deal with upcoming utility bills, the directorate “will discuss with the City of Windhoek to put in place a standing protocol on payments”.

He added that the education directorate will request that the municipality not use “services and utilities payments as a threat in future, since the austerity measures impacts the entire society”.

Last week Vries said the threat to disconnect at least three schools was badly timed and could negatively affect students writing exams.

Yet an expert told Namibian Sun that the ministry's water and power bill could be significantly lowered if leaks were fixed and water management protocols properly implemented.

“If Windhoek schools in partnership with the education ministry would apply better water management they could reduce their water bill by at least 30%. In addition, if they installed water-saving equipment, they could easily save another 30% on their water use,” said a source, who declined to be named.

He said if the education ministry and schools applied available water-saving techniques, equipment and practices, water use could be halved.

The source said the majority of high utility bills are linked to weak water-management practices.

He added that some schools, including the Augustineum Secondary School which has accumulated more than N$2.8 million in unpaid water and power bills, have experienced leaks that are not being fixed.

Vries confirmed yesterday that some leaks had been identified at schools, including Augustineum.

He said repairs were “constrained by the availability of funds”.

Nevertheless, the directorate was tackling the problem and had instructed the relevant departments at the works ministry to “urgently” submit an emergency work application to the procurement unit for consideration and approval.

“A major overhaul of the entire sewage and water reticulation system is earmarked for the school through the Africa Development Bank funding that is being advertised in the media. It is anticipated that work will commence at the school in April 2019,” he said.

Vries added that the regional education directorate was “in constant conversation and consultation” with the relevant offices regarding outstanding payments, but added that “the prevailing downward revision of the budget pervades all layers of the Namibian public and society”.

Records provided by the municipality last week showed that several schools had outstanding water and electricity bills amounting to millions, with 22 secondary schools owing the City N$18.8 million and 38 primary schools owing a total of N$11 million.

Offices and special schools made up the difference of more than N$2.5 million.

Augustineum Secondary School has one of the highest arrears, owing the City more than N$2.8 million in unpaid water and electricity.

Academia Secondary School has an outstanding debt, stretching back more than four months, of more than N$1.2 million.

Windhoek High School's utility bill stands at more than N$1.6 million, and the Concordia account is in arrears by more than N$2 million.

Eros Primary School is in arrears by over N$1.1 million, A. Shipena Secondary School by over N$1 million and Jan Mohr Secondary School by more than N$1.3 million.

JANA-MARI SMITH