🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Cocoma Primary School pupils sleep on floors due to severe accommodation shortages
via The Namibian2 min read
Pupils at Cocoma Primary School in the Kavango East region are sleeping on mattresses on the floor due to severe accommodation shortages, according to parents. Videos and pictures show pupils sleeping on mattresses in the sand. The school, located in Kakekete village, lacks proper flooring despite donations. The current hostel structure accommodates hundreds of pupils with only five mattresses. Erastus Haitengela, executive director for the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, stated that construction for a proper hostel is expected to begin soon, with a contract signed last week. However, sources suggest the ministry previously indicated the school did not qualify for a hostel. Shipapo Kayunde, a parent, described the sleeping conditions as disturbing and called for government action. The school, established in the 1970s, serves 260 vulnerable and marginalized pupils from the San community. Community activist Frans Moyo criticized the government's failure to provide adequate accommodation. Education director Christine Shilima acknowledged the challenges but stated no measures are being taken due to a lack of allocated funds from the head office.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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