Mpungu
Learners at Himarwa Ithete Secondary School at Mpungu village in Kavango West Region are tired of male sex pests at the school. They say the offenders are unceasing in their quest to obtain sexual favours from learners, which is detrimentally affecting their studies.
Female learners from Grades 9 and 10 wrote letters, copied to New Era, in which they say specifically that some male teachers at the school have been relentless in pursuing them for some time now.
“He always takes me in isolation and tells me that he wants me to be his second wife and that I must not worry as he will play the game safe,” said one female learner, who requested anonymity, fearing reprisals from the culprit.
The learners say this type of sordid behaviour has made them lose respect for this particular teacher. They also don’t fear the teacher, because they know his weakness for some of the schoolgirls he has been trying to sleep with.
“He called me to his place at the teachers’ houses at the hostel and grabbed my arm and pulled me into his room, then pushed me onto his bed. I was shocked and I screamed ‘Sir, what are you doing?’, and he said, ‘Don’t call me sir, call me honey.’
“He pushed me against the wall, but I managed to escape,” recollected one of the traumatised learners, who said she was nearly raped by her teacher.
Some teachers at the school also make proposals to the learners on behalf of their friends, who work elsewhere. “He always promises to upgrade me to Grade 10 if I will agree to date his friend,” said one Grade 9 learner.
In another letter, a learner said since January a certain teacher has been asking her out and he would call her to his class when he is alone and ask her why she is rejecting him. “He used to take advantage of me, forcing me to sleep with him. I begged him to stop, but he said he would not stop and says he does not want to hear the word ‘no’ from me,” complained another learner.
Learners now want the situation to be investigated.
Several efforts to get comment from school principal Samson Mendai were fruitless. Mpungu circuit inspector Mathew Kalihonda said he was not aware of the allegations of sexual impropriety.
“You know what happened at Augustineum. Learners are now opening up, which is a good thing. If we can confirm this, there are procedures in place. If a teacher engages himself [sexually] with learners it is contrary to our code of conduct. I will look into the matter, investigate, and if confirmed, will bring the culprits to book,” Kalihonda vowed.