Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Between 2012 and 2021, seven schools in the Oshikoto region closed due to uneconomical operations.
The infrastructure of these schools has been repurposed for kindergarten use.
The closed schools are Oshikomba Primary School, Okweya Primary School, Shanamutango Primary School, Okayekenonga Primary School, Ekaha Primary School, Mandjolo Primary School, and Oshigwedha Junior Primary School.
“The school had a low number of learners enrolled. We moved the learners to other schools and transferred the teachers to different schools as well,” Aletha Eises, the Oshikoto Regional Education Director, explained and added that the move is aimed at ensuring education remains unaffected by the closures.
In 2021, Oshigwedha Primary School closed due to low student enrollment.
In February 2020, Ekaha Primary School also closed due to low enrollment.
The closures are attributed to a lack of maintenance by the Ministry of Education and vandalism by community members.
The Affirmative Repositioning’s (AR) party leader in the region, Oscar Shikongo said the closure of the schools is due to the lack of maintenance from the ministry.
“Community members vandalise the schools and there is no maintenance. A good example is Oshigwedha Primary School, which closed this year. The directorate brought a high school geography and history teacher to teach primary school learners. Some fourth-grade learners were not able to read, which forced some parents to move their children to other schools,” he said.
Shikongo added the situation led to the lowered number of learners enrolling at the school.
“The ministry is to blame for the closure of these schools,” he said.
The party has requested the education ministry to reopen Oshigwedha Junior Primary School, citing an increasing population of children aged 5-8 in the surrounding villages.
“Learners are crossing the main roads, placing their lives at risk. Learners with disabilities and vulnerable children are suffering because parents cannot afford to pay for taxis while there is a school in their radius, fully equipped with necessities,” Shikongo highlighted.
Shikongo called for a consultation meeting with community members and education stakeholders to discuss reopening the school.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by Otatashe Primary School, which remains operational with 149 learners.
According to him, the school is in need of adequate infrastructure.
“The reported incident of a teacher’s books being consumed by a cow is just one illustration of the pressing issues affecting the learning environment. The school is in dire need of at least a block of classrooms to address the following concerns: Exposure to harsh weather conditions, both students and teachers endure heavy rain during the rainy season, extreme heat in summer, and biting cold in winter due to the inadequate infrastructure,” he said.
