The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development has concluded oversight follow-up visits to community hostels across 14 regions.

However, they expressed concern that there had not been much change since they made recommendations to the line ministry about three years ago, as most hostels remain in dire conditions.

The committee made a courtesy call to the Otjozondjupa Governor after visiting community hostels in the region. 

According to the Otjozondjupa Education Director, Betuel Tjaveondja, the region has 27 community hostels that accommodate learners who stay far from the schools. 

Of those hostels, nine are subsidised by the government, while others are managed by community members.

The Auunus Community Hostel, which accommodated 99 learners, has been closed since the COVID outbreak. 

TThe visit was a follow-up to that, which was carried out in 2022 after reports of learners living in unconducive environments without adequate food, bedding, or basic supplies.

Otjozondjupa Governor John ||Khamuseb requested the committee to also visit combined schools to familiarise themselves with the situation. 

 "Schools that were meant for 500 kids are accommodating 1,000 kids. Something is going on; we cannot keep it under the rug. The smaller kids of grade one or pre-primary are in the same hostel with grade 11 kids; they must bathe together. What do you expect?" 

The governor pointed out Ovitoto, Okatjoru, Okandjira and Okondjatu, which were transformed into combined schools for primary and secondary learners.