Martin Endjala
Issues with the drainage of sewage caused a delay in the resumption of classes at Martin Ndumba Secondary School at Divundu in the Kavango East region.
The learners returned to class on Tuesday.
Public school students from all over the country returned to school on Monday after the midterm break.
The school announced that all Grade 11 learners, both boarders and non-boarders were to report to the hostel.
The school explained in a notice that it made arrangements to accommodate Grade 11 students despite the temporary closure of the school, enabling them to continue preparing for the NSSCO exams at the end of the school year.
“All other students from pre-primary to Grade 10 are to remain at home until such a time that the situation is attended to,” read the notice.
The acting principal, Edward Mbangu said the school could not afford any more delays because the Grade 11 students were preparing for national exams.
“The other grades, like Grade 10, have exams that are still far ahead, meaning they have enough time to prepare compared to the Grade 11’s,” he explained.
He explained that all learners could not be allowed on school grounds to allow for proper maintenance work on the sewage system.
“When reversal of sewage in pipes occurs, the smell can be unbearable. It can be very bad for people with respiratory conditions, amongst others. It is always good to ensure the safety of learners,” he said.
According to Mbangu, the smaller number of students on campus during the repairs made the situation easier to manage.
When asked about other infrastructural challenges, Mbangu said that the school still experiences minor leakages here and there. He did not specify what these leakages are.
He said the minor challenges are manageable at this stage.
This was not the first time this had occurred at the school.
In August 2021, it was reported that learners had not returned to class since the school reopened because the hostel’s kitchen was not in an acceptable condition.
Teo Nghilundua, a civil engineering expert, explained that improper pipe installation frequently results in the reversal of sewage.
“When that happens, the sewage is reversed and instead of going from A to B, it starts flowing in the opposite direction. In this instance, when you flush a toilet, the water does not go down but it flows back up, causing it to spill out and flood the bathrooms on the school premises,” he said.
He said a quick fix would not help because such repairs are only temporary.
He recommended carrying out the necessary maintenance work to replace and install pipes properly.
