WINDHOEK – The Namibian Police (Nampol) and the Windhoek City Police on Friday commenced their annual school visits to selected primary schools and high schools in the capital.
The aim of the programme is to educate learners on the harmful effects of illicit drugs, date rape drugs, the dangers posed by the popular ‘hubbly bubblies’, social responsibility, discipline, bullying, peer pressure, crime prevention and road safety among others. Last Friday the first visit was to Ella du Plessis High School in Khomasdal. Nampol Chief Inspector Victoria Matjila who is the head of community policing, informed New Era on Friday that they will be visiting selected schools between January 17 to February 17. According to her the schools were selected, because of problems experienced in the past, which include gang activities, bullying, theft and drug abuse among others.
Matjila said that the visits would continue next semester “and plans to take the visits to the regions.” The schools were informed to create crime prevention committees, which will consist of a life skills teacher and members of the Student Representative Councils (SRCs). The committees will be expected to identify problems at the schools, and act as a link between the schools and the police. During the school visits a police helicopter will also be on display, with young women pilots, as a way of encouraging learners to look at careers as pilots after completing school, Matjila said. The principal of Ella du Plessis High School Jakavaza Kavari, said the kids learned quite a lot and would heed the advice they received from law enforcement officers and “do what they are told in order to improve and have a crime-free environment.”
“We have taken the request seriously to start up a crime prevention committee, and we will start next week,” the principal added. Former learner at Ella du Plessis High School, and television presenter, Hilda Basson-Namundjebo also spoke at the event on Friday morning. She encouraged learners to have a vision. “School is not the time to be interested in boys and being someone’s wife,” she said. Basson-Namundjebo urged learners to work hard, and not to concentrate on relationships, adding, “sex won’t go out of fashion.” Schools that will be visited include Jan Mohr, Goreagab Junior Secondary School, Tobias Hainyeko Primary school, People’s Primary School, Emma Hoogenhout, Dawid Bezuidenhout and Centaurus High School.
By Tunomukwathi Asino