Learners and teachers of the Onawa Secondary School in Omusati Region's Anamulenge Circuit held a demonstration over the shortage of water supply there.

The group marched to the office of the Omusati Education Director at Outapi.

Teachers and learners say the school has been experiencing water shortages for almost five years as a result of low water pressure in the tanks.

Sometimes the tanks at school run completely dry, and at other times only a few drops of water come out.

Insufficient water at school is forcing learners to go to school without bathing, something they say causes discomfort.

"We need to decide whether to pass or drink water; it's a critical situation for all of us, as not only the learners are affected but also staff members. We are a school of more than 1000 people, and water can't be supplied to our school. We are struggling, we need water to be able to pass," said Evena Mathews, a learner at the school.

Since the beginning of the year, water has been ferried to the school, but it's never been sufficient, said Hedwig Ndokosho, a teacher.

"Boarding learners together with staff creates a population of over 1,000 people living with no proper running water. Staff members and pupils are working under strenuous conditions as they all have to collect and fetch water to sustain their households, and at times there is no water."

Several letters were written to relevant authorities over the years, but the status quo remains unaddressed.

Learners now use pit latrines instead of flushing toilets because of the water shortage, which they say compromises their health.

If the water shortage is not resolved on or before the 21st of this month, the school plans to bring in a health environment officer to assess the situation and establish whether it's safe to keep learners there.

Omusati Education Director Benny Eiseb received the petition. "I had a discussion with the Director of Rural Water Supply, Dr Ngurare, on Saturday, and he instructed his team on this side to work on the facilities they have to upgrade the system at Namwater. The tender was awarded, and they said by the end of this month, Onawa and Outapi areas will have no more of that challenge."

Eiseb says there are 40 other schools in the region also facing a water shortage.