The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has inaugurated a modern hostel facility at Ndoro Memorial Combined School in Kongola, in the Zambezi Region.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hailed the development as a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to creating a conducive learning environment, enabling young people to become meaningful contributors to the country's socio-economic development.

"With the opening of this hostel, we are now able to accommodate 70,000 learners in Namibia in hostels, and the idea, really, particularly in the isolated areas, is to have more learners in hostels so that we can create a better learning environment." 

The President also urged guardians and school boards to ensure that no child drops out of school.

"Make sure that you allow the learners to come and be accommodated in the hostel, those who are going to be given space here, and for the learners, you must take this hostel as your home and take care of it."

The facility will accommodate 320 learners who previously walked up to 12 km daily to attend school.

It includes a matron's house with two sick bays, a multipurpose hall with a 400-seat capacity, sustainable energy solutions such as solar power and a standby generator, three boreholes and a sewer treatment plant.

The president also stated that it is unacceptable that the facility was only completed nine years after its commencement in 2016.

The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, noted that the facility comes as a big relief for learners and parents living around Bwabwata National Park.

"For many, this hostel will mean less time on unsafe roads and more time dedicated to learning. To our parents and families, it is our firm belief, Your Excellency, that this hostel will bring peace of mind, as the children will not only be secured but also well equipped."

She said the hostel has enough space to accommodate all learners currently enrolled.