CHILDREN in the Katutura State Hospital's children's wards do not miss out on any schooling.

The Katutura Hospital School was started in 1999 by the Namibia Association of Occupational Therapists and since then the children have been attending regular classes while in hospital.

Bertha Mungunda became a teacher at the school in 2009 and she loves every minute of her job.

"I have a passion for these sick children," she says.

"They are sick and in bed and this school gives them a chance to feel like they belong and to interact with other children just like they would do if they were healthy."

Her passion is evident, as she not only teaches school-age children but also allows preschool children to play in her class.

"The little ones get very bored so I allow them to come in and play and draw," says Mungunda.

The school is not without challenges though, as the children are from all over the country. Some do not speak English and are used to being taught in their mother tongue.

But Mungunda insists that all the children attend her classes and even if at first they do not understand, she teaches them basic English and keeps them otherwise occupied.

The older children are taught in English according to the Namibian school syllabus.

If a child cannot get out of bed Mungunda teaches him or her individually after class.

Although class is every day from 08h00 until 13h00, many children miss a lot of classes due to operations, physical therapy, or sometimes they are just too sick to attend school.

"Sometimes the children have to leave the class to go for X-rays but as soon as they are done they are back," says Mungunda.

"It is sometimes difficult but I want these children to go back to their mainstream schools when they are healthy with a minimal backlog."

Mungunda tells the story of a 12-year-old from Opuwo who had never attended school before being admitted to the hospital. With encouragement, she could soon write her own name.

It is successes like this that encourage Mungunda to carry on, as she never gets to experience the success of having her pupils pass their grades.

The Windhoek Central Hospital and the Oshakati State Hospital also have hospital schools.