By: Annakleta Haikera
The education ministry’s executive director, Sanet Steenkamp, has said that Sitenda Junior Primary school is a rural uneconomical school, as it enrols less than 100 learners, making it an unsustainable school.
Sitenda Junior is a government school situated in the Ncamagoro circuit of the Kavango West region.
Last month, the school’s principal, Theresia Kantema, told the media team and Benhard Kavau of the Students Union of Namibia (SUN), during a donation ceremony of food items and clothes, that she pities herself in face of problems.
The pupils have no access to a toilet, while the teachers use pit latrines. All the classrooms at the school are makeshift structures made either of corrugated iron sheets or mud.
According to Steenkamp, like any other government school in the country, Sitenda JP receives support from the ministry of education art and culture, all teachers’ salaries are paid by the government, the school receives Primary Education Grants, benefits from the Namibia school feeding program, textbooks and stationery provision as well as school furniture.
Additionally, she said the teachers at the school are provided with professional support through workshops and meetings.
The school has a population of 78 learners, of which 40 of them are from the San community. The school offers classes from grades 1-3 and three teachers inclusive of the school principal.
“The ministry is aware and acknowledges that Sitenda faces many challenges such as lack of ablution facilities for learners. It has no administration block, no permanent classroom block, as a result, learners are taught in temporary structures and most of the learners are vulnerable as their parents find it hard to contribute to the education needs,” said Steenkamp.
She argued that the situation at Sitenda is not unique, as there are many rural uneconomical schools countrywide.
“The ministry is committed to devise strategies that propel the full support of this school and transform them into delivering quality education efficiently.”
She said the principal, Kantema, was recently nominated by the directorate for an instructional leadership training program at African Leadership Institute coordinated by the ministry. “Therefore the school is provided with everything.”
Kantema, last month, requested for the ministry of education to consider the school in the transformation of new structural buildings.
At the time, she said it was a pity she has to be the principal of the schools as she deals with many challenges, among them a shortage of necessary teaching tools.
“How do you teach a child who doesn’t know much about the quality of education? The school has three teachers and one volunteering teacher who wants to help with activities. When the kids want to use the toilet, they will run to the bush, and she will escort them there for safety.”
In July 2017, the education ministry directed that all small schools with less than 35 learners in a class, sometimes known as “one-man schools”, be phased out because they are un-economical for government to run.
At the time, Steenkamp said the ministry spent about 85 per cent of its budget on the remuneration of staff.
