Ondangwa
Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba has criticized teachers who pursue love affairs with learners, advising that such teachers be dealt with severely.
Speaking at the Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School fundraising gala dinner at Ekamuti Lodge in Ondangwa on Saturday, the former president said that educators having romantic relationships with learners is an “eyesore”.
He advised teachers to refrain from exploiting learners. “Teachers have a duty to protect learners; the learners are there to receive an education and not to be exploited,” said Pohamba.
Equally, the former president also advised learners to refrain from falling prey to “such immorality” with their educators and subsequently falling pregnant.
The gala dinner aimed to source funds to purchase a school bus to use to expose the learners to, and interconnect the school with, other sectors of education.
Pohamba called upon the school to ensure that the bus is used to interconnect it with other schools and make the school administration mobile, and not for personal use.
The school had already secured N$34 000 while about N$130 950 was sourced from the gala dinner.
School Principal Pinehas Ekongo is still appealing to the business community and individuals to assist in raising the over N$400 000 needed to purchase the bus.
The Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School has performed outstandingly in both Grade 10 and 12 national examinations since 2012 and has been among the best ten schools nationally.
The school was established to be a centre of excellence of the Oshikoto Region, and it has presented itself as such through its performance.
The former president applauded the school for its good work, saying that commitment to education is vital for the country’s economy and social programmes.
The Director of Education in Oshikoto Region, Lameck Kafidi, in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Director of Lifelong Learning in Oshikoto, Elizabeth Mwaala, said the school’s outstanding performance has brought a fresh breath of dynamism and innovation.
Kafidi said that the school is now embarking on its “third phase to ensure more learners are accommodated”.
The school that was established in 2010 started off with Grade 8 and 9 learners only but it has grown to Grade 12.
The former president also used the opportunity to encourage learners who are yet to write examinations to study hard and excel.
“It is only when we have educated people that we are able to develop this country,” said Pohamba.
He also implored the Omuntele community to continue supporting the school.