Onawa water problem solved
High-ranked Omusati school faces temporary water struggles at its overcrowded hostel.
Jemimah Ndebele
Following a three-day water shortage at the Onawa Secondary School hostel, parents complained to Namibian Sun.
The school is the only one of the 288 schools in the region that has a hostel. It was built to accommodate 288 boys and 288 girls but now houses twice that number.
Furthermore, Onawa Secondary School is one of 10 schools in the region that have been struggling with water shortages, regional education director Bennie Eiseb said in an interview with The Zone.
The predicament resulted in hygiene problems and complaints that learners are unable to bathe in the mornings.
“We are aware of the water shortages at Onawa but have discussed with the necessary stakeholders. However, the problem is a result of the capacity at the school and the NamWater pipes that have to be closed and opened to maintain it,” said Eiseb.
He added that they have come up with a three-stage plan to mitigate the problem.
“Onawa is no longer a problem. We have an interim plan in place which is then the first step to completely solving the problem. Our interim plan involves supplying water to the school four times a day and it has been working well since its implementation. Ultimately, we hope to reduce the number of learners at the school over the next three years to ensure that it does not exceed its holding capacity and that everybody’s water needs are met. This is essentially Plan A,” Eiseb said.
He said Plan C of the plan is constructing a water tank.
According to the school’s hostel superintendent, Robin Bekele, the water situation has improved since the beginning of February.
Following a three-day water shortage at the Onawa Secondary School hostel, parents complained to Namibian Sun.
The school is the only one of the 288 schools in the region that has a hostel. It was built to accommodate 288 boys and 288 girls but now houses twice that number.
Furthermore, Onawa Secondary School is one of 10 schools in the region that have been struggling with water shortages, regional education director Bennie Eiseb said in an interview with The Zone.
The predicament resulted in hygiene problems and complaints that learners are unable to bathe in the mornings.
“We are aware of the water shortages at Onawa but have discussed with the necessary stakeholders. However, the problem is a result of the capacity at the school and the NamWater pipes that have to be closed and opened to maintain it,” said Eiseb.
He added that they have come up with a three-stage plan to mitigate the problem.
“Onawa is no longer a problem. We have an interim plan in place which is then the first step to completely solving the problem. Our interim plan involves supplying water to the school four times a day and it has been working well since its implementation. Ultimately, we hope to reduce the number of learners at the school over the next three years to ensure that it does not exceed its holding capacity and that everybody’s water needs are met. This is essentially Plan A,” Eiseb said.
He said Plan C of the plan is constructing a water tank.
According to the school’s hostel superintendent, Robin Bekele, the water situation has improved since the beginning of February.
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