The ||Kharas Education Directorate plans to install pre-paid water and electricity metres at its buildings in the new financial year in an effort to reduce utility expenses.

The regional director, Jesmine Magermann, said this during the principals' meeting held recently at Keetmanshoop. 

"The directorate has to compile a plan to save on expenditure on utility bills, and this is now coming this new financial year to you colleagues. Prepaid water and electricity metres are one of the initiatives proposed to curb the higher expenditure on water and electricity. Currently, we get threats from some town and village councils that they will cut water and electricity supply to teachers' houses, schools, and hostels to force the regional office to pay invoices."

Magermann says a recently conducted survey shows teachers are staying for free in government houses.

"Data was also gathered from 2023, colleagues, by the Department of Works in collaboration with the section finance to determine how many teachers' live in government, but they do not pay for staying in these houses; they receive housing allowances, and the directorate pays their water and electricity consumption every month for them. These staff members are aware that they have been benefiting in this regard for many years and they keep quiet, and now pre-paid metres will be installed at their houses first."