By Confidente Reporter
IT appears there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for 240 learners with multiple learning disabilities who in two weeks face being left without a school as the City of Windhoek is yet to respond to their desperate plight for land since 2006.
The more than N$100 000 a month rent is forcing the Welwitschia School for Integrated Learning to shut its doors after 15 years of leasing private-owned properties across Windhoek to carry out its activities.
On March 24, the school board in desperation wrote to Acting CEO Fillemon Hambunda asking why the city lords have not given them a simple yes or no for land to put up temporary school structures following numerous applications.
“There is no need to explain the urgency of the matter to you once again, we went through that a million times. We as a school board just need to know yes or no, to indicate to our parents if they should start making arrangements to move their children to either other schools or keep them at home.”
The school also stressed that normal main stream schools do not cater for the special needs learners thus a majority of them will end up sitting at home and no school to go to if council does not act.
To make matters worse, it appears council has also not made effort to engage investors that have offered the school a helping hand. “The school has managed in the mean time to get funders… but normally and quite realistically these funders also need proof on paper before they invest… Out of desperation please give us this confirmation in writing from the City of Windhoek for the land.”
“…We are extremely dependable on this funders for the new temporary school and they first require a confirmation on the long term lease of the land in writing. The Welwitschia School Board does need this documentation by the end of March to finalise contracts with these funders.”
In response, Hambunda said that those affected should not get emotional about the matter adding there are policies to be followed regarding the applications of land. “I should mention this to you again your application will be handled in accordance with our policies and procedures and you will be informed accordingly.”
Hambunda goes on to say, “I am aware that you are desperate due to the fact that you are personally affected as a result of your child also going to be affected. I made this clear in the office of the Mayor not be emotional about this matter.”
School Founder Magda Swanepoel told Confidente that council finally met the school board on Monday but that nothing positive came out of it.
“We delivered our presentation to them on Monday but nothing came out of it so far. I don’t think they understand the urgency of this matter. We have to move out of the current premises on April 26. They told us that would travel to area ear-marked for the project but either than that they have not made any decisions and there is no definite action,” Swanepoel said.
Hambunda declined to discuss the issue when contacted for comment. “I will not comment on this matter with the media. We met with the school board last night (Monday) so why must they run to the media? Is this to pressure us? Whatever I need to say will be discussed with them,” Hambunda said.
The Welwitschia School is one of a few in the country that accommodates pupils with various learning barriers including those that cannot read and write as well as those that have difficulty with language processing but have normal intellectual abilities.
Swanepoel earlier this year told Confidente that if they get land, they will house their school on one property and expand. On top of that, they also hope to accommodate the blind after donors withdrew their funding.