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ZONE: Demands rise for hostel opening

• 3 Hours Ago

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has ordered the immediate opening of the hostel at Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana High School following a visit to the school last week.

The hostel, located in the Etayi circuit of the Omusati Region, was completed in 2022 but has remained unused due to delays in official registration and administrative processes.

Currently, 45 learners are living in makeshift structures built by their parents, braving the elements in shacks while a fully constructed hostel stands unused nearby. A computer laboratory at the school is also reportedly not in use.

During his visit, Ngurare expressed concern over what he described as wasted resources, saying the government had not invested millions of dollars in infrastructure for it to remain idle.

“We must implement without excuses,” he said. “There is no reason to wait. If the government has invested resources in your school to ensure its success, they must be utilised.”

He added that other schools facing similar challenges would receive the same directive.

The prime minister emphasised the need to place people at the centre of decision-making, saying the safety and dignity of learners should take priority over administrative delays.

The government has set a deadline for the facility to be operational by the end of May. Ngurare said he had engaged the Minister of Education to ensure implementation timelines are met without further delay.