20 Feb 2017

Classes are expected to resume today at the two junior secondary schools in the Okavango Sub -district following temporarily closure due to lack of water supply.

The schools have been closed for four days from February 13 to February 17.

“Classes will resume Monday after maintenance of the water bowsers,” said principal education officer in the North West region, Ms Didimalang Mmemo.

She confirmed in an interview, that the decision to temporarily close Ngambao Junior Secondary School and Gowa Junior Secondary school was due to prolonged lack of electricity which affected water supply in the Eastern side of Mohembo area.

She said the water supply in that part of the Okavango sub district relied on electricity for propelling.

Ms Mmemo said the regional education office initially supplied schools through water bowsers in cases of no water supply but the two bowsers have recently broken down leading to lack of capacity to relieve the two secondary schools which have boarding facilities.

Ms Mmemo pointed out that the dire water situation negatively impacted the schools in the feeding system and use of ablutions while the electricity affected students especially the evening study periods.

She observed that primary schools were not mainly affected in the area since they were not boarding schools.

Ms Mmemo said the school management would make a plan for lost times to help students recover the break period.

The water situation, she said had been experienced since towards the end of last year but was managed by the use of the water bowsers. BOPA