The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Youth, Civic Relations and Community expressed mixed feelings about the state of government capital projects during their visit to the Kavango East region. 

Its Deputy Chairperson, Austin Samupwa, said their inspection of various government capital projects was both impressive and disappointing. 

"The committee is happy in most aspects but also not happy in some aspects that look to be impeding on the service delivery to the Namibians that find themselves on the ground."

Their first oversight visit was to the Romanus Kamunoko Secondary School in Rundu. 

The contractor's failure to complete the job has left the school without a functioning laboratory. 

"What is sad is the issue that grade elevens have to write exams, including practicals, and at the moment, the school does not have a laboratory. That lab was awarded to a contractor who came to the school but didn't have the capacity and abandoned the building in February of this year, and it is now in August. Learners are left with one month to start with practicals, and they have to write these exams in another school somewhere else, and they have not practised. We are appealing, and we are going to report that the lab needs to be attended to," said Samupwa.

The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with one particular school that is over half a century old. 

The school is in a state of disrepair.

Broken windows, gaping roofs and unmaintained pit latrines are just some of the many problems plaguing this school. 

"There has been no single renovation since the school was opened in 1967, and we have observed serious cracks here that need to be closed. If we fail to address these issues promptly, the learners and teachers at this school are at risk. It's in a terrible state, and we need to attend to this school seriously."

The Tuhingireni Secondary School was one of the success stories during this oversight visit.

It's a new school, catering to the ever-increasing population in Rundu. 

Phase one is done, and the school is ready for phase two. 

The deputy chairperson said, so far, the progress looks positive. "We must commend the government for establishing new schools. Phase one is done; classrooms are perfect and of good quality. The handover by the regional office and headquarters has already been done in order for them to construct new classrooms, a library, a laboratory, and an admin block, which is not there. Otherwise, progress is proceeding smoothly. We hope the contractor given the job is not going to disappoint."