Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698747025911.pdf (Namibia)
Republic of Namibia MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE UPDATE ON THE FLOOD SITUATION AND IMPACT ON EDUCATION SECTOR BY HON.

KATRINA HANSE-HIMARWA, MP MINISTER National Assembly 4 APRIL 2017 Hon Speaker, HonMembers I rise before this August House to brief the Honourable Members about the flood situation and its impact on the education sector in each of the affected regions, namely; Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and Zambezi.
rains received in the north and north-eastern On the onset, I would like to provide the Honourable Members with the background and context on the flood situation.

The current areas of Namibia have made these parts of the country experience the seasonal flooding to disrupt that have educational service provision.
The flood disaster continues to affect the education sector negatively this year 2017. caused the disruption and continue regions of Namibia, as we may all be aware, Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, In the north Central the Cuvelai ecological area of the North Central regions is characterized by thousands locally known as 'oshanas'.

Flooding of the 'oshanas' in the Cuvelai normally occurs after heavy local rains or good rainfalls in the highlands of neighbouring Angola.
The regions face annual small scale floods, which sometimes in damage of varying magnitudes.

of shallow drainage channels result The north eastern region of Zambezi has experienced a yearly increase in the level of flooding since 2003.

Floods are caused by the overflow of Zambezi and Kwando river system, high ground water levels and above normal rainfall.
After our consistent monitoring with the regions, the Ministry observed that a total of 27007 learners and 102 schools in the regions of Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Zambezi are affected by floods so far.

Omusati region has the highest number of schools (73) affected by the floods.

However most schools that were closed for almost two weeks due to flooding, reopened after the mid-term break.
Buildings especially ablution facilities were submerged as most have been damaged and will require some renovations.

About 10 schools are affected by the floods in Oshana region.

Oikango Combined School in Eheke circuit is temporarily closed and the Grade 10 learners are currently camping at the Teacher Resource Centre.

Meanwhile, Omulunga Primary School with 99 learners is still closed with the possibility of re-opening if provided with tents for camping at school.
Lessons at Dr. Chief Ankama PS have resumed in the meantime.

the Ohangwena region has also been affected by Honourable Members, the flood.

In Ohangwena region four (4) schools are completely closed (Omutaku PS, Shingunguma PS, Elao PS, and Nghiteke PS), with a total of 1636 learners closed (Ohangwena CS, Etale CS, Onghala CS) with a total of 543 learners affected.

Four (4) schools which were closed with about 748 learners have since re-opened.

schools have partly affected.


While three (3) Hon Speaker, Hon Members, the recent case of the Zambezi region has also been brought to our attention.

The current level of the Zambezi River has reached 6.5 meters, which is considered a disaster to the Education Sector.

The Zambezi region is therefore considered the most affected region as stated earlier.

The region is experiencing deep water floods.


This has resulted in 12 schools in Zambezi region affected so far and the flood situation is still developing in that region.

No school has been reported closed for now but the water level is rising very fast and there are plans to immediately close schools such as Nankutwe CS, Muzii CS, and Ikaba CS in the coming week as there are no funds to relocate the learners and teachers.
Furthermore, it should also be noted that the current flood situation facing some schools in the Zambezi region is an annual occurrence that will perpetually continue to disturb teaching and learning annually if no sustainable permanent solutions are explored and implemented as a matter of urgency.
In spite of the above, the region appears to be grappling with this situation year in - year out as there seem to be no sustainable counter measures in place to effectively deal with the negative effects of the flood in all flood prone schools.

Ideas such as relocating and resettling affected people or communities to higher grounds seem not to be favoured by the locals who prefer to be given relief by government while they remain where they are (their traditional habitats).
Also given the existence of so much investment that have been made by government in terms of fixed education facilities in almost all school localities, consideration for relocation may not be economical.
In light of the above, the ministry is currently faced with the shortage of facilities and items (such as the lack of tents, lack of boats, lack of mosquito nets, lack of sanitary materials, lack of capacity to deal with the floods, lack of preparedness and lack of funds) that are needed to mitigate the impact of the flood, provision of education and further to ensure the social wellbeing of learners and staff members.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, In the meantime, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has developed regional contingency plans mostly in the flood prone areas and this has helped the ministry to some extent and use the contingency plans to lobby for funds within the Ministry's budget and buy tents which are used during the times of flooding.

Funds are limited and the Ministry is challenged to be able to meet the needs as requested by the regions.
In most extreme cases the Ministry is left with no other option but to close the schools while continuing to provide basic needs to the learners such as tents and other facilities.

To ensure that learners do not lose out on receiving quality education, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has assessed the situation in Omusati, Ohangwena and Oshana regions and it is planning to conduct normal classes during the May holiday for these schools to compensate on lost time.
In the case of Zambezi region where flood has just started making impact, the Ministry will close the schools affected and carry out an assessment after three weeks in order to allow these schools to use the existing schools in the upper land to continue with classes during school holiday.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, The Regional Councils of Omusati, Oshana and Ohangwena regions have been trying their level best to manage the impact of the flood although with minimal resources at their disposal.

It should be noted that region is different since it requires the situation in the Zambezi relocation of both teachers and learners from flood areas to higher grounds.
The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture would like to whole- heartedly thank the Governors of the respective regions for their foresightedness and support to education during this period.

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, while the ministry conducts a full assessment on the impact of the floods, we call upon our stakeholders and strategic partners to come on board and support us as we address this national challenge.
Finally, I, as the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture call on all Hon I will members to assist with our drive for resource mobilization.

continue updating this August House on this situation as we go.

I thank you!
List of schools affected by floods Region School Name Malindi CS Nankuntwe CS Muzii CS Namiyundu PS Ikaba CS Ivilivinzi PS Kasika PS Masikili Junior PS Mbalasinte CS Mpukano Junior PS Nsundwa PS Imukusi CS Okau CS Amutanga CS Eendjati PS OmbungaCS Uukwiiyongwe CS Andambombali PS Zambezi Oshana Status Number affected F 51 95 169 45 189 20 129 33 214 37 86 207 33 9 73 10 40 10 of M 71 71 152 51 131 30 146 33 174 21 63 191 44 56 81 18 45 18 learners Number affected F 3 8 7 4 7 1 6 Total 122 166 321 96 320 50 275 66 388 58 149 398 77 65 154 28 85 28 0 6 1 4 3 4 0 7 0 0 3 of teachers M 3 5 7 3 8 2 3 2 7 2 3 14 0 0 I 0 0 0 Total 6 13 14 7 15 3 9 2 13 3 7 17 4 0 8 0 0 3 Closed L.Camping Closed 8 5 0 48 12 Chief Dr. AnkamaPS OmulungaPS Endombo JPS Oikango CS 67 55 4 56 44 4 123 99 8 6 4 0 2 1 0 Closed Completely Ohangwena Closed (4) Schools Closed (3) Partly Omusati Oshuuli CS Olupumbu CS Enkono CS Onampira CS Othika CS Oshalembe PS Oikokola PS Okaleke CS Akayupa CS Opawa CS Samwel Shilongo PS Omutundungu CS Andreas Amushila PS 1636 543 113 84 119 96 202 86 838 110 606 778 600 165 97 I Nikodemus PS Shafombambi PS Onheleiwa PS Ongolo PS Pyamukuu CS Oluteyi CS Onghuta JPS Ogongo CS Ondeka CS Anamulenge PS Okanimekwa CS Okaelona PS Okapopo CS Omahila CS Dr. K. Dumeni CS Oshiputu CS Ondeitotela PS Jerry CS Omufitu North CS Onelago CS Okafitukakamba JPS Okakekete JPS Ekandjo 233 268 740 95 478 61 50 28 532 646 477 50 343 110 566 517 299 50 441 120 56 70 Private Ombundamuti CS Oshikulufitu CS Sakeus Ihuhwa DAPP School John A. Pandeni CS OmbahePS Lukas Dama CS St Gabriel PS Oshatotwa CS Onkambadhala PS John CS Eengwena CS Epoko CS OmbwanaCS Sheetekela CS Ouvale CS Ondeipanda PS Oneheke CS Ekundu CS Onembamba CS Pauline PS Ondombe YohumbaPS Shekudja 296 449 250 380 457 124 368 127 167 24 244 229 238 93 612 304 256 663 454 528 97 785 Daniel Elao PS Uushwa CS Eshakeno CS Chief Shooya CS Omunkete CS Itamaro CS Sacky Kayone PS Peter Iilonga CS Osisia PS Oukwatelo PS Oukwandongo CS Moses JPS Omufitu Weelo PS OumaCS Onangholo CS
 Onaholongo CS Aihalu 132 273 355 464 337 293 39 260 106 96 818 405 325 67 161 352 27007