The construction of the Liselo Combined School hostel in the Katima Mulilo rural constituency of the Zambezi Region is nearing completion.
Construction began in early 2022 with the aim of addressing issues related to late arrivals and absenteeism among the school’s 320 learners, both boys and girls.
Speaking to Nampa in an interview on Wednesday, Liselo Combined School Head of Department (HOD) Seddy Simasiku noted that the completion of the hostel will be a great relief not only for the school, but also for the learners who have to walk and commute from places like Katima Mulilo, which is 10 kilometres away, as well as the Dairy and Cowboy informal settlements.
“Some learners walk 10 kilometres to school and by the time they get there they are either tired or late for classes. The long distances to and from the school have contributed to absenteeism among the learners,” Simasiku said.
She further noted that some parents have decided to keep their children at home so that they can rather assist with chores, or have them sell vegetables on the streets.
The HOD further noted that the school has observed an unusual trend where parents request school transfers for their children, even though these children are simply staying at home and not engaging in any educational activities.
Liselo Combined School currently has 741 students and employs 24 teachers. The school serves students up to Grade 9 and plans to introduce Grade 10 classes in 2024.
Simasiku acknowledged that despite the substantial student-teacher ratio, the school is adapting and hopes to receive additional staff to better address learners’ needs.
The new site has a hostel, computer laboratory, library and nine new classrooms to complement the 18 older classrooms. Teachers who teach at Liselo also commute from Katima Mulilo as there is no provision for accommodation for them on the school premises.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency