Dibasen School hostel burns down

TRAGEDY struck the Dibasen Junior Secondary School at Okombahe, some 60 km west of Omaruru, on Tuesday morning when one of the two remaining hostel blocks burnt down.

The fire left 75 boys roofless, most of them from less privileged homes. They also lost most of their belongings such as blankets, toiletries and clothing.The Ministry of Education is investigating the cause of fire.School Principal Anton Howaeb said they have to send the boys home to get much-needed clothing, toiletries and other necessities from their parents.The Ministry has already promised to give the hostel new mattresses.The school was the target of several politically motivated arson attacks in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Those fires had already reduced the number of hostel blocks from four to two, and 14 classrooms were destroyed.As a result, the number of pupils dropped from 900 in the early 1980s to 450 and then 200.”We are appealing to well-wishers such as the Red Cross, private companies and individuals to help the learners with the much-needed blankets, cosmetics and other necessities.Even if we send them home, we know that their parents are mostly peasant farmers and people who themselves struggle,” Howaeb said.Tuesday’s fire came while efforts were underway to rebuild the school.National Assembly Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab, the patron of the Dibasen Rebuilding Project, launched the renovation project in October 2003.”Our hearts go out to those learners who already stay in inhumane conditions.It is an unfortunate incident and we can only hope that some good Samaritans will come and assist the learners and the school,” said Isak #Ouseb, Deputy Co-ordinator of the Rebuilding Project.He said the fire had dealt a severe blow to the rebuilding efforts but the project would continue.They also lost most of their belongings such as blankets, toiletries and clothing.The Ministry of Education is investigating the cause of fire.School Principal Anton Howaeb said they have to send the boys home to get much-needed clothing, toiletries and other necessities from their parents.The Ministry has already promised to give the hostel new mattresses.The school was the target of several politically motivated arson attacks in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Those fires had already reduced the number of hostel blocks from four to two, and 14 classrooms were destroyed.As a result, the number of pupils dropped from 900 in the early 1980s to 450 and then 200.”We are appealing to well-wishers such as the Red Cross, private companies and individuals to help the learners with the much-needed blankets, cosmetics and other necessities.Even if we send them home, we know that their parents are mostly peasant farmers and people who themselves struggle,” Howaeb said.Tuesday’s fire came while efforts were underway to rebuild the school.National Assembly Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab, the patron of the Dibasen Rebuilding Project, launched the renovation project in October 2003. “Our hearts go out to those learners who already stay in inhumane conditions.It is an unfortunate incident and we can only hope that some good Samaritans will come and assist the learners and the school,” said Isak #Ouseb, Deputy Co-ordinator of the Rebuilding Project.He said the fire had dealt a severe blow to the rebuilding efforts but the project would continue.