Nairobi: Tara Combined School: Tara Combined School in the Musese Constituency, Kavango West Region, is facing a severe water crisis that has disrupted education for over 700 learners from Grade 0 to Grade 11. The situation has also forced the school to shorten lessons, suspend afternoon studies, and close ablution facilities for both teachers and learners.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Principal Mpareko Fiorinus Mpareke reported that the school has long struggled with water access issues. 'Previously we used to get water from the borehole at the village called Masiro, which was not fit for human consumption and meant for animals before independence. That's the water we have been using since we connected from the borehole at that particular village,' Mpareke said.

The school later switched to a pipeline from Manyando village, but the problem persists as the water supplied through a borehole through the pipeline had low pressure and could not reach the school. 'The Directorate of Education used to bring water sometimes, but it's not enough,' he explained.

Mpareke said the school has recommended to the regional Directorate of Education for a borehole to be drilled at the school, rather than sharing with the community. 'While we are waiting for the borehole, at least they can look into boosting the water flow to feed the school tank,' the principal noted.

The school also faces overcrowding challenges with two learners sharing one chair, while others sit on logs, Mpareke said. Richard Mavara Shikongo from the Kavango West Regional Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination confirmed ongoing discussions with the school.

'What we want to do with that borehole from Manyando is actually to boost the water flow by ensuring that we put another tank and pump from that borehole to feed the pipeline just to increase the pressure this side of the school,' Shikongo said. He revealed that previous installation attempts were delayed due to community resistance, with the reserved pump being allocated elsewhere.

'Since the community has now agreed, we are going back to the drawing board, even though it will take a bit of time to mobilise the resources to come and do what we wanted to do,' said Shikongo.