Beki-Kumata, the fishing company that ‘adopted’ Cocoma Primary School in the Kavango East region, says two newly constructed hostel blocks are ready to be occupied but cannot be used until ablution facilities are completed.
Company chief executive Manfried Likoro yesterday said the responsibility of ablution facilities lies with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture.
This follows an article in Tuesday’s edition of The Namibian on accommodation challenges at the school, which forced pupils to sleep on mattresses in the sand in makeshift structures. It also follows concerns voiced by the parents of the pupils at the hostel.
Videos and photos seen by The Namibian show pupils sleeping on mattresses in the sand.
Likoro yesterday said the fishing company did not sponsor mattresses or temporary bedding, but contributed to the construction of two hostel blocks, which have already been completed and are awaiting the completion of ablution facilities before pupils can move in.
He said the company allocated N$350 000 towards the hostel blocks.
“Beki-Kumata became aware of infrastructure challenges at Cocoma in 2021 and resolved to make a lasting contribution through the development of permanent infrastructure to improve learning,” he said.
He said the company also built two classrooms and a storeroom at the school in 2022 and adopted it as its flagship corporate social investment initiative following the successful completion of the infrastructure.
He added that the company through its partners, Castrobros, contributed N$1.9 million to the development of the school, including N$860 000 spent on the construction of classrooms, N$35 000 on stationery and N$380 000 on the continued development of the school.
“This investment has resulted in the construction of two completed pupil hostel blocks accommodating 64 pupils and additional pupil support through stationery and continued infrastructure funding,” Likoro said.
He said the company did not assume responsibility for constructing or managing the entire school.
He said the provision of additional classrooms, administration and ablution facilities for existing and future hostel blocks, kitchen, water, fencing, dining facilities and the long-term maintenance of the school remain government responsibilities through the education ministry.
Education ministry executive director Erastus Haitengela on Monday said the ministry has already awarded a contract for the construction of hostel facilities at Cocoma.
He said the contract was awarded to Vega Investment for the construction of additional classrooms and hostel accommodation and is valued at N$23 million.
“The award was awarded last week as part of phase one of the project to transform it into a school of excellence to cater for the underprivileged and marginalised children in the area,” he said.
Haitengela said the project is being implemented in line with a directive issued by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, following her visit to the school last year.
It also builds on support provided by the fishing company over the years.
The current structures accommodate hundreds of pupils from far villages and marginalised communities.
The hostel opened in 2017 with 22 pupils, and that figure has since grown to 164.
