Water Restored at High Hope Primary School, Classes Resume

WALVIS BAY – About 500 learners at High Hope Primary School in Walvis Bay are expected to return to school today after water was reconnected at the school following the intervention of Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses. Classes were disrupted last week after the school faced serious sanitation problems. That forced both learners and teachers teaching grades 4 and 5 to walk across a road to access these facilities at an adjacent school. Following an urgent parent meeting on Wednesday by principal Monde Kolofu, the lack of water indicated that the situation posed health and safety risks for both learners and teachers. “Our time already is cut because we have the platoon system, so we do not teach for 40 minutes per period as the curriculum requires us, so we had to cut to accommodate the afternoon classes. According to her, teachers have to use the toilet and drink water, and “we believe this situation cannot continue this year.” As a result, parents were given two options: to keep learners at home or to continue classes despite the situation. She also raised safety concerns, saying learners must cross two busy roads to reach the toilets at another school. Following complaints, a concerned governor visited the school on Friday. “As a governor and an educationalist, this is unacceptable,” she said. She immediately called in education officials, school management and local leaders to deal with the issue. /Goagoses, with the collaboration of the rural constituency councillor Ruben Shikongo and the Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga, worked round the clock to have water reconnected to the school as well as the electricity at Narraville High School, which also has been without electricity. The governor also said this situation was indeed unacceptable. “As a governor and an educationist, this cannot be accepted. This is business, as teachers will return to this school. Learners will be enrolled. If there is any problem whatsoever, let me know so that I can address it. She also appealed to parents to visit her office in the future so that both the inspector and school management can be summoned if future problems arise. – edklerk@nepc.com.na