Stefanus Nashama
Moses Nghitotelwa, a learner at the Oshikunde Combined School, who complained about walking long distances to attend classes on an empty stomach, will possibly be allowed to stay in the hostel facility, after education authorities took up the matter.
The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka said Nghitotelwa should approach the Regional Education Director to help him find accommodation in the hostel, rather than walking 14 kilometres per day to attend classes.
Nghitotelwa(19) however says he was left with no choice but to walk seven kilometres from his home in the Omhito village to the school and back. This, he says is because he is unable to pay for his stay in the hostel.
Once he is done with daily school activities, he has to walk the same distance to go back home.
Although he is not the only learner that walks long distances to attend school, Nghitotelwa felt that his academic performance is negatively affected by the situation.
The Minister today responded that she would consult with the Regional Education Director to find out why the learner is not in the hostel.
“Get the Regional Director. Consult the Director to understand what the reasons are and why the learner is not in the hostel,” Nghipondoka said.
Nghitotelwa who lives alone at home also complained about studying on a hungry stomach.
Meanwhile, the Ohangwena Regional Governor, Walde Ndevashiya confirmed that he only recently found out about the issue on social media, but that it was not communicated directly to his office. He added that he became aware of the problem on social media.
“It is true, but it was not officially brought to my office. I just saw it on Facebook,” he said. The Governor said upon reading the story on Facebook, he communicated with the School Principal, Hoster Simasiku, asking about the situation of the learner.
According to Ndevashiya, Simasiku explained that the learner was previously in the hostel, but that the learner did not apply for accommodation this year. It is Simasiku’s position that Nghitotelwa did not give reasons for his decision to not reapply for hostel accommodation.
Ndevashiya further said that there is an exemption policy about the hostel for learners who have no means to pay the hostel fees.
However, the governor said, Simasiku told him that the hostel is currently full to capacity, and that there is no space.
The hostel at Oshikunde Combined School can only accommodate about 200 learners at a time.
Ndevashiya further confirmed that a number of learners walk long distances to attend school.
“There is a case of children, who do not want to be controlled, and for that reason, they leave home and find themselves walking long distances, which they opted for themselves,” he said. Commenting on the issue of hungry learners, Ndevashiya said this is an issue within the scope of the constituency office. He stressed that Councillors are open to helping people who might experience hunger.
