Allexer Namundjembo
The Ndoro Memorial Combined School hostel in Omega 3, Kongola Constituency, Zambezi region, has officially opened after nearly eight years of construction delays.
The school serves learners from pre-primary to Grade 11 from Omega 3 and nearby villages in Bwabwata National Park.
Since 2016, learners, especially those in Grades 9 and 11, were forced to camp outdoors while preparing for exams because the hostel remained incomplete.
The school had no electricity, clean water, or fencing, leaving students exposed to wildlife such as lions and wild dogs. Students repeatedly raised safety concerns, saying, “We will not rest until our cries are heard.”
Community members and the National Africa Students Association also criticised government neglect and the slow pace of the project. Protests later erupted after the recruitment of hostel staff excluded the local San community. Parents withdrew their children from school, demanding fair employment and at least 60% of positions for locals.
The hostel, built at a cost of N$57 million, can now accommodate about 320 learners. It is equipped with solar power, a standby generator, three boreholes, and a wastewater treatment plant for gardening projects.
It forms part of 13 newly built hostels, bringing the total number of government hostels to 219, serving more than 70 000 learners nationwide.
At the official opening, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the hostel would create a safe learning environment and improve access to education.
“The establishment of this hostel is a manifestation of the Government’s commitment to providing learners with an environment conducive to learning, enabling you to become meaningful contributors to the socio-economic and sustainable development of our country,” she said.
She added that education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about empowerment, breaking cycles of poverty, and building a brighter future.
Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that the facility would especially benefit minority indigenous communities such as the Khwe and urged learners to make use of the opportunity.
While the hostel opening marks progress, community members and learners continue to push for fair recruitment and improved safety, calling for sustained government attention to ensure student welfare in remote areas.
