Disgruntled Omitara residents took to the streets at the weekend to vent frustrations over rising schoolgirl pregnancies, corruption and poor academic performance at Otjivero Combined School.
Community leader Albert Haimbili, who spearheaded the protest and read the petition on behalf of the residents, said pregnancies among pupils at the Otjivero Combined School and the school’s poor academic performance has become a cause for serious concern.
In their strongly-worded petition, the residents demanded the immediate removal of the principal, whom they accused of not having the school’s best interest at heart and of practicing nepotism.
The petition was presented to Omaheke acting regional director of education Constance Wantenaar.
“The school is gambling with the future of our children. Pregnancies at the school have become rampant and recently, two school girls fell pregnant and nothing was done to the principal and the supervisors there. They are the people who were in charge of our kids last year and they must come forth and take responsibility and provide answers.
“When you look at the recruitment process at the school, only people in favour of the principal are getting employment at the school; even if they don’t qualify for the positions. Teachers are never in class to teach our children, as many stay away from school for more than a week at times. We are now saying enough is enough and the time for action is now,” said Haimbili.
The petitioners also threatened to withhold their children for the second term until their concerns are addressed.
Wantenaar promised to fast-track the petition to the office of the executive director but urged the fuming parents not to deny their children access to education out of frustration.
She said a committee will be set up to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations of nepotism and general corruption at the school.
She assured that feedback will be given before the end of the current midterm break.
Otjivero Combined School, which was established more than 27 years ago, is a state school at Omitara settlement in the Okorukambe constituency in the Omaheke region.
It mostly caters for farmworkers children and other children including orphans from nearby farms.
- ohembapu@nepc.com.na