A group of prominent Swakopmund stakeholders and Alumni of the school has launched a new initiative to construct a school hall at Festus !Gonteb Primary School in Mondesa, building on earlier efforts to improve infrastructure at the historic educational institution.
The proposal was presented this week (Wednesday), during a high-level engagement with Erongo Governor Natalia //Goagoses, where organisers outlined the urgency of addressing longstanding infrastructure gaps at the school. Speaking on behalf of the initiative, Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company CEO Fluksman Samuehl said the project is driven by former learners and partners committed to preserving the legacy of one of Mondesa’s oldest schools. “We cannot allow this very important institution, the oldest school in Mondesa, to fall behind,” he said, recalling how alumni previously mobilised approximately N$500 000 to construct a two-kilometre boundary wall to protect the school from vandalism.
Samuehl said the group has now identified the lack of a school hall as a critical gap, noting that many historically disadvantaged schools were built without such facilities. “This is not just an ordinary school, this is a heritage, it offers enormous potential to support the Namibian child,” he added, emphasising the urgency of the project. //Goagoses welcomed the initiative, describing it as a necessary intervention rather than a luxury. “It’s not a luxury for a school to have a hall. We are talking about more than 1 300 learners and over 40 teachers who have to operate under challenging conditions,” she said. //Goagoses highlighted the impact of inadequate infrastructure on teaching and learning, noting that outdoor assemblies and overcrowded classrooms disrupt educational activities, particularly in the coastal climate.
//Goagoses also stressed the importance of strengthening primary education, warning that gaps at foundational level contribute to poor progression rates in higher grades. Acting Director of Education in Erongo, Helena Asino, echoed the need for improved infrastructure, while cautioning that budget constraints limit the government’s ability to fund new projects. “Our capacity to fund new infrastructure like a school hall is highly limited at this stage,” she said, adding that the directorate would instead provide technical support, including planning, inspections, and quality assurance during construction. Asino commended the initiative as an example of effective community mobilisation, saying partnerships between schools and stakeholders are key to addressing infrastructure challenges.
The proposed school hall is expected to serve as a multi-purpose facility for academic, cultural, and social activities, contributing to a more conducive learning environment for learners. The delegation behind the project includes several notable figures from the public and private sectors, among them Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company CEO Fluksman Samuehl, New Era Publications Corporation CEO Christof Maletsky, and Letshego CEO Dr Esther Kali. Former regional and local leaders, including former Erongo Governor Samuel Nuuyoma and former Swakopmund Mayor Daphne Nashilundo, are also part of the initiative. According to the organisers, the purpose of the engagement was to brief authorities on the proposed development and to gather preliminary input before implementation begins. The project is expected to further enhance the school’s facilities, building on earlier efforts to improve the learning environment for pupils in Mondesa.
By Sharlien Tjambari
