THE dilapidated boys’ hostel at Centaurus School in Windhoek will be rehabilitated, and depending on availability of funding, could be ready to house pupils when schools start next year, says the Education Director in the Khomas Region, Josia Undjombala.
According to Undjombala, the Ministry of Education received a directive from the Ministry of Health in 2004 informing it that the building had been declared unfit for human habitation. The Khomas Region Education Director said that the Ministry of Works had advised that the building could not be rehabilitated.’This is because of the nature of the material with which the structure was built,’ Undjombala said.He said this was also the reason why no remedial action has been undertaken on the building.In the approximately seven years during which the building has been out of use, and due to the fact that it is not fenced off, Undjombala says that it has become a haven for illegal squatters. He did also not deny that the structure could have been used by criminals.Undjombala said the Ministry also mooted the demolition of the building.According to the Education Director, Monday’s visit to Centaurus by Education Minister Abraham Iyambo, his Permanent Secretary Alfred Ilukena and himself was prompted by the need to investigate the situation and find out for themselves what the condition of the hostel was.’On inspection, we found that the boys’ hostel was built with bricks and cement and that the building is structurally sound,’ Undjombala said.He said that as a result, the Education Minister had issued a directive calling for an assessment of how the building can be rehabilitated and renovated. ‘We were uncertain regarding what to do with the building, as we were getting no response from the Ministry of Works regarding our request for the building to be renovated. That is why we went there and realised that we can do something,’ Undjombala said.When asked about the alleged confusion regarding which department was responsible for the building, Undjombala said that there was no confusion.’The Ministry of Education is the end user, but the Ministry of Works is the custodian of Government property, and that is why no action could be taken without consent from Works,’ he said.According to Undjombala, the boys’ hostel could be ready to house pupils at the start of the 2012 school year, provided the necessary funding was available.He also said Centaurus School would be staying where it is, dismissing rumours that it would be relocated.
