Siya Combined School in Kapako Constituency, Kavango West Region, is facing a shortage of classrooms, inadequate sanitation and a lack of water, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.

During a recent visit by Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo, the school also highlighted the need for a hostel, as many learners walk long distances to school. Some stay at a community hostel across the school but have to fend for themselves.

School principal Imelda Andreas says the school is also experiencing learner dropouts, with enrolment declining from 555 to 538 learners.

She says the school continues to struggle with inadequate classroom furniture, learning resources and sanitation facilities.

Andreas says the school's ablution facilities have been dysfunctional.

The principal also called for the urgent demolition of an old pit latrine that poses a health and safety risk to learners.

The school also said they need a proper fence around their school for safety reasons. The school toilets are also dysfunctional, and learners use nearby bushes when nature calls. Due to that, learners and teachers have been battling human-wildlife conflicts.

"Our fencing is poor, and our ablution facilities are inadequate and unsafe. At times learners and staff are forced to use the bushes near the river. Since we reopened the school on the 10th of September up to date, our ablution facilities are not working, we do not have water, and we fetch water from the river as well as we are using the nearby bushes up-to-date. This is not safe. Our children have had encounters with snakes and hippos; they have been attacked and injured. Most painfully, we have lost a learner's life."

She further appealed for an update on the proposed hostel, following Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare's visit to the school earlier this year.

 Kapako constituency councillor Augustinus Kupembona said the plan is still on track.

"Our last engagement with the office of the prime minister together with the directorate of education was to finalise the drawings, and then the directorate to come up with a timeline of the project and then submit to the Office of the Prime Minister."

Governor Verna Sinimbo acknowledged the school's concerns.

"Having heard your grievances, I would like to pledge a photo copy machine to go with the five boxes of photocopy papers being donated today. And while I'm at this point reassuring the school management that the issue of the community hostel has reached the highest office, like you already alluded to, let us remain patient and wait for the outcome. The Office of the Governor is aware of it, and the Directorate of Education is aware of it. We are working together as a team. Let us continue to remain patient and continue working as a team."

The Governor's Office, together with the Directorate of Forestry, donated fifty fruit trees to the school.