The Oshikoto Regional Council has donated N$220,000 to Onamishu Combined School in the Eengodi constituency to construct a kitchen and dining hall for its hostel.
The initiative is intended to help the school meet the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s requirements for food assistance eligibility. Currently, the hostel accommodates Grade 11 and 12 Advanced Subsidiary learners who rely mainly on food contributions from parents and occasional donations.
School principal Esther Iita expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the new facilities would significantly improve learners’ welfare. “Our learners have been surviving on food from their parents or occasional donations. This contribution will help us meet the Ministry’s standards and provide proper meals,” she said.
Iita explained that the community hostel project began between 2021 and 2022 with makeshift shack structures, later replaced by two permanent blocks—one for boys and one for girls. However, space remains limited, with only 32 beds available for 86 learners, forcing some to share beds.
To sustain meal provision, learners contribute N$1,800 per year, paid in instalments, but many struggle to afford the amount. “Some learners stay with grandparents who live on pension money. Our teachers often assist, but it’s not always possible,” Iita added.
Cooking conditions have also been difficult, as meals are prepared on three traditional stoves in an open space, making the process challenging during rainy or windy weather. “The learners eat in the open. It is not a good environment,” she said.
Oshikoto Regional Council spokesperson Petrus Nehale said the donation was in response to a request from the school. “We recognised the need and the dedication shown by Onamishu Combined School. It is one of the best-performing schools in the region, and we wanted to support its commitment to learners’ success,” he said.
Construction of the kitchen and dining hall is expected to begin soon. Once completed, the new facilities will enable the hostel to qualify for government food assistance and improve conditions for both learners and staff.
Principal Iita thanked the regional council for its gesture, saying: “This donation gives our learners hope and dignity. We are grateful that the council remembered us.”
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