Festus Hamalwa

A boy who was denied admission at Erikki Nghimtina Combined School in the Ohangwena region for two years because he belongs to a Pentecostal church, is now going to start school in grade one this week.

Tangeni Aron has been at home after the school principal denied him admission because he was baptised in a revival church. On Friday, residents of the Ohangwena region, including churches of the self-proclaimed pastors, through a demonstration, expressed their disapproval against the boy’s situation, simply because of his religious status.

The petition which also touched on the treatment of revival churches in the region, was handed over at the office of the directorate of education in the Ohangwena region.

 In an interview with New Era, the father of the child, Shilipuleni Venasiu, said he was disappointed by the principal who denied his son admission just because of the child’s religious status.

 “I had no peace. I always have sleepless nights because of my child who does not go to school,” said Venasiu.

He stressed that he has been trying to explain to the school principal and begging her to admit his son.

The father said the principal did not want to admit the boy because she does not have a right to admit a child who has a certificate of baptism from the revival church.

“I have two children. One has a certificate of baptism from Elcin while Aron has a certificate of baptism from a revival church. So, the principal told me that she is only going to admit the child with an Elcin certificate of baptism while Aron will not get admission,” he explained.

 Venasiu said he reported the matter to the office of the directorate of education in Ohangwena but nothing has been done since 2020.

“I took the matter to the Christian Freedom Fighter party and also to the various pastors of revival churches to see if they can assist my child to get admission,” he said.

Venasiu further explained that this prompted the Christian Freedom Fighter and the residents including various pastors of revival churches to demonstrate against the unfair treatment of his child.

“ On Monday morning, I received a call from the school saying I should take my child to start school this week,” he stated.

Venasiu said he is extremely happy that his son will be going to school. 

Speaking to New Era, Aron said he is happy because he is going to school to learn how to read, write, calculate and make new friends.

“It is not good to stay home while my friends are at school learning various activities,” said Aron. Also speaking to this publication, deputy minister of education Faustina Caley, said every Namibian child has the right to go to school regardless of their religious status.

Caley said the ministry does not have a rule that denies children access based on church membership or religious affiliation.

 “Education is the key to every Namibian child, kids are the leaders of tomorrow, therefore, it is very important that schools should not deny admission to learners,” she noted.

- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na