Erongo to construct additional classrooms
WALVIS BAY – The director of education in Erongo, Erenfriede Stephanus, says they have managed to construct 36 classrooms in the region last year and will build a further 16 in 2021.
According to Stephanus, the construction of more classrooms not only allows the region to cope with the increasing number of learners enrolled every year, especially at the coast, but also to cease the rental of properties for classrooms.
Speaking last week to the media in Swakopmund, Stephanus said repairs and replacement of kitchen equipment at nine hostels, renovations of ablution facilities at 18 schools and construction of large ablution facilities at 24 schools are part of the 57 projects the ministry embarked upon in the region.
Some of the projects are
already complete while some are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“Some of the sites were only handed over at the end of November last year and could not be completed on time. However, the construction of those that are behind is expected to be completed by next week,” she explained.
Erongo governor Neville Andre who also toured the region to inspect schools last week expressed his concern over contractors who do not honour their obligations when awarded tenders by the ministry.
According to Andre, some projects they visited last week had not been completed and will definitely affect learners who are expected to return to schools and hostels for the new academic year.
“Contractors that do not deliver on time should not get any government tenders anymore. Some sites have been handed over but the contractors are yet to start with the actual work, however, they want to be paid already,” Andre said.
He added that they will in futureseetothatsuchcompanies do not get government contracts in Erongo and that they will liaise with the finance ministry to have them blacklisted.