THE principal of the Mangetti Dune Primary School says she is concerned about learners who have quit school here to assist their parents with the harvesting of devil’s claw.
Speaking to Nampa on Monday, Menesia /Gomes said 363 learners were enrolled at the school this year.
“At the moment, we have 331 learners after some 32 dropped out of school to assist their parents in the bush with the harvesting of devil’s claw,” she noted.
/Gomes was speaking at the sidelines of the official handover of a renovated boys’ hostel at Mangetti Dune, over 180km east of Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region.
Devil’s claw is an indigenous plant, and has been used as medicine to treat ailments like rheumatism and arthritis.
The principal noted that the plant is mostly harvested in winter, and then eaten or sold to local buyers.
The renovation of the Mangetti Dune Primary School boys’ hostel and several classrooms was sponsored by Hand-in-Hand for Africa at a cost of over N$1,4 million.
Hand-in-Hand for Africa is a German non-profit organisation aimed at rebuilding communities through different programmes in order to alleviate poverty in many African countries.
/Gomes said the girls’ hostel is also being renovated with assistance from the same organisation.
In total, there are 186 learners in the hostel – 101 girls and 85 boys.
The principal accused parents here of failing to encourage their children to attend school.
“These children are both your responsibility and ours. We are concerned about their absence at school, and when we invite you to parents’ meetings, you simply don’t come. This affects our academic performance,” she told those in attendance.
/Gomes then urged the parents to start encouraging their children to attend school, and to also come to school on time.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, senior traditional councillor in the !Kung Traditional Authority, Sarah Sungu thanked /Gomes for her tireless efforts in improving the physical state of the Mangetti Dune Primary School, which was established in 1989.
“I am so happy that you have voiced your concerns to us. I am also happy that you do it in order to improve the education of our children,” Sungu noted.
The occasion was also attended by Otjozondjupa regional director of education Faustina Caley, special adviser to Otjozondjupa governor Rosalia Mwashekele-Sibiya, and seven representatives from Hand-in-Hand for Africa. – Nampa
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