Teaching and learning at the Ndama East Primary School at Rundu has not yet commenced, although the academic calendar started about a month ago. 

Ever since schools reopened on the 12th of January, learners at Ndama East Primary have been showing up at school promptly at seven-thirty in the morning and leaving the premises by 10h30 in the morning. 

At the moment, about 1300 learners spend close to 3 hours per day in these 14 tents without being taught. 
The Education Director, Christine Shilima, explains why it's still important for them to come to school. 

"For us to take attendance to ensure that learners' minds should still be that, I need to wake up in the morning and then go to school."

There are no toilet facilities at the school, and the teachers who are supposed to be offering lessons are still in the process of being recruited. 
The contractor is currently on site constructing the new school. 
This means learners are able to have access to clean water from the building site. 

However, Shilima says, what would be ideal is for some learners to temporarily move to the nearby Ndama South School under the platoon system so that teaching and learning can take place. 

Her office made this suggestion to the community a day after the school reopened, but the parents rejected the idea. 
Shilima is, however, hoping that they will change their minds, saying the nearest school has all the facilities available for learning and teaching. 

"I was informed there was another meeting again, and apparently parents agreed that grades 4 to 7 will now go to Ndama South, and pre-primary to grade 3 will remain. I'm waiting for that letter. I need to confirm in writing that this is the agreement so that we can now make that arrangement."

The Director says the Namibia National Teachers' Union (NANTU) will also have a say towards the working conditions of their members. 

"Is Nantu allowing their teachers to be in an environment where there are no ablution facilities? So there's going to be engagement here, and this will cause delay. We cannot start the classes by this week. Nantu also has to agree. I'm waiting for that letter, and a meeting will be convened next week with Nantu."