Omaheke schools off to slow start after break
Failure by pupils to report for school after the mid-term break in the Omaheke region has irked school authorities.
This situation causes unnecessary delays, and it contributes to poor academic performance in the region's schools authorities said. Among the affected schools is the Good Hope Primary School in Epukiro constituency's Okovimburu settlement, where children could not start school on time due to water crisis.
Lightning damaged water pumps at the school and this caused the delay.
The school's hostel superintendent, Tekla Vazuva Swartz, told this publication that the unfortunate incident forced them to postpone the resumption of school activities after the mid-term break.
“This is part of nature. Water is a basic necessity and we told the parents to bring the pupils back on Wednesday,” said Swartz.
Swartz added that although they experienced delays in children returning to school after weekends and mid-term breaks, this time around the situation was a result of nature.
“Of course, we have had those delays in resumption in the past, and they affect our syllabus, which is not a good thing, and we always urged parents to cooperate,” said the superintendent.
The principal of Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School In Kalahari constituency, Urbanus Uakuzako Kavari, confirmed that out of 900 pupils only 289 had reported for school on Tuesday while the rest stayed at home.
“This is a very disturbing situation. It affects our syllabus and many other things at our school,” explained Kavari.
The principal added that parents must reduce the time wasted during these unnecessary hindrances and contribute towards the academic performance of their children.
Henry Katuuo, the principal of Rietquelle High School in the Aminuis constituency, said time is precious, and wasted time is a huge loss.
“We are left with only six weeks to the midyear-examination, and these delays may put pressure on pupils as they have a lot of work to do,” Katuuo stated.
Out of 470 learners at Rietquelle, only 300 reported for school on Tuesday.
In Otjinene constituency, out of 1 077 pupils only 700 reported at Usiel Ndjavera Primary School, according to the principal Haroldt Tjiueza.
“This is a very bad habit, it affects the teaching environment at the school, and the parents don't see that. Imagine how many lessons will be missed and that affects both the learners' and the school's academic performance,” explained Tjiueza.
However Epukiro Secondary School principal Bigman Uanivi told this publication that the school activities had started well without hindrance.
“We don't have unnecessary hindrances, the parents are cooperating in bringing learners on time,” said Uanivi.
He added that his school put strict measures in place that force the pupils to report for school on time. “The measures vary and include corrective punishment where learners are asked to clean the school environment when they return late from home. I am glad this has improved the situation, and we always start on time,” the principal emphasised.
Out of 56 Epukiro learners who sat for AS examinations last year, 49 qualified for tertiary institutions.
In 2022, only 20 Grade 11 learners qualified for AS, while 39 qualified for AS in 2023, and this can be attributed to the school's top performance in the entire Omaheke region.