Learning among snakes and scorpions

Almost 400 pupils at Mountainhill Primary are forced to learn in unstable tents, faced with strong wind, scorpions and snakes as frequent visitors.

The school was temporarily set up at Goreangab Dam’s farm 508 after heavy rains damaged homes at Otjomuise Extension 6 earlier this year, prompting the relocation of residents.

Those who were relocated are complaining about poor living conditions and a lack of basic services, such as water, sanitation and electricity.

With about 368 pupils from grades 0 to 7, Mountainhill uses tents as classrooms and offers staff members and pupils mobile toilets.

These have, however, proven unstable and unsafe.

“We get regular visits from snakes and scorpions which come to hide in the tents from the sun. That is not safe for the children.

“We do inspections every morning before classes start. When we find snakes, we call snake catchers for help, but scorpions are harder to manage. Our security guards and cleaners remove them before the pupils enter,” says school principal Lea Iyambo.

Parent Chriscelda van der Byl says it is likely that the tents will be damaged beyond repair once the rainy season starts.

“We are pleading for the government to act now before it is too late. Our children need assistance, they need physical classrooms now, before everything is destroyed.

“The tents have been here for a long time, and they should be treated as an emergency measure. A snake bite could lead to the death of a child, especially considering how slow services are on this side,” she says.

Frustrated residents say the tents and toilets, which were set up six months ago, fall over on windy days.

In a video seen by The Namibian, some pupils, school teachers and community members are helping to re-erect tents.

Community leader Samuel Jusius says many parents have complained about the use of tents in the heat.

RELIEF IN SIGHT

He says the lack of windows makes the heat unbearable.

But some relief is in sight.

Says Jusius: “We were fortunate to receive a donation of seven classrooms from Project Kaoko, and construction commenced today [last week].

“The ministry has also budgeted for further construction, which will resume soon once the final processes are complete.”

Iyambo says the school faces several pressing challenges that affect its daily operations.

“We have no electricity in the area, which makes it difficult to use office equipment. Because the school was established late, we did not qualify for a primary education grant, so we have no funds for day-to-day operations,” she says.

“We were also not included in the school feeding programme, yet most of our pupils come from disadvantaged families. There is a great need for the feeding programme so that pupils stay in school.”

Iyambo says the forthcoming rainy season is a major concern, as the school is surrounded by rivers that could make access difficult.

“Our fear is that when the heavy rains start, we may not be able to cross the rivers to reach the school,” she says.

Deputy executive director of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Edda Bohn says the ministry is working with Khomas regional director Paulus Nghikembua to solve the problem.

He says the directorate has secured funding from the education ministry to build a fully fledged school.

The process of appointing a contractor has commenced so that construction starts as soon as possible, he says.

“The current arrangement is a temporary project that will end as soon as construction of a proper school is completed,” he says.

Nghikembua says the directorate remains appreciative to the Khomas Regional Council for its support in erecting a fence that has secured the schoolgrounds, as well as the City of Windhoek for making land available.

“The directorate will continue to ensure that both the teachers and pupils are safe at all times,” he says.

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