… promises action soon
EENHANA – Allegations of nepotism, discrimination and victimisation due to party political affiliation and allegations of teachers’ involvement in sexual relations with learners are said to be threatening the peace at one of Namibia’s best performing schools in the north.
The allegations that feature regularly in the local press prompted the Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi and Ohangwena Regional Governor Usko Nghaamwa to pay a whirlwind visit to Hamibili Haufiku Senior Secondary School in Eenhana to investigate the allegations. Namwandi who is not pleased with the allegations, warned that his office has already considered transferring a number of teachers from the school.
He said disciplinary action may also be taken against the culprits. During a meeting held at the school, a male teacher alleged that the school and the regional education leadership is highly tainted by politics, and teachers known to be Swapo Party supporters or sympathisers are subjected to discrimination. Promotions and other opportunities to earn extra money, that include teaching over holidays or marking national examination papers are routinely offered based on political affiliation and not on merit.
“If you are an RDP member in the Ohangwena Region and you go for an interview, you will get appointed, but if you are a Swapo member and you go for interviews in Ohangwena Region, you will not be appointed. I’ll give a typical example of the teacher that used to leave learners in the class and go to sleep during working hours. At times we used to go and knock at his door and we would find him sleeping.
That teacher was promoted to head of department and then to educational officer soon thereafter,” said one of the disgruntled teachers. He also informed Namwandi in the the presence of other teachers and the regional education deputy director Isak Hamatwi that he saw his male colleague taking a learner to his bedroom.
The teacher’s allegations triggered counter-accusations by other male teachers at the school who told Namwandi that the outspoken teacher is isolating himself from other staff members and that his allegations are without substance. Namwandi noted their objections, but observed that it is not possible that only one person could be unhappy about the untenable situation at the school.
“You must be careful, not everyone is a ringleader. The fact that others are quiet does not mean that they are all happy,” Namwandi warned one young male teacher. A young female teacher told Namwandi that the situation at the school is worsened by older teachers whom she described as political and professionally immature. She said if the situation stays the same learners and the reputation of the school would suffer the most.
The school principal Rabanus Shaninga who joined the school towards the end of 2012 also expressed misgivings about the situation at the school and said he fears that it could affect the performance of the school and its reputation. “Every day when I come to this school, I must be ready for a new situation. Politics here is among the issues that are destroying the school, teachers are just not comfortable,” said Shaninga.
Shaninga said certain teachers and the school management are in conflict with him and accuse him of favouritism and nepotism – all unfounded allegations according to him. He revealed that not too long ago the school’s management boycotted a meeting called by him without explanation. “I realised that I joined a ticking bomb which is about to explode, and it’s difficult for me to run the school,” Shaninga said.
Namwandi who was not amused with the tense situation, told the teachers they are at school to educate Namibian children and nothing else. “You should know that when elephants are fighting, the grass suffers the most. I am not going to allow the standard of this school to go down. It is going to happen over my dead body.
It is not only one person at this school who has a problem [as you want to put it], if management is boycotting the principal. There are going to be a lot of transfers and/or disciplinary hearings at this school. I don’t want your commotions to affect learners’ performance, I don’t want it to happen in Jesus’ name,” said Namwandi.
By Helvy Shaanika