Parents in limbo as legal battle leaves learners stranded

A group of 26 learners have been caught in the crosshairs of a legal battle between their school and the education ministry over so-called malpractice.

The learners from Savo Nuts Private School in Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region sat for their national grade 11 exams last year, but have been waiting about four months for their full results. So far, they’ve only received partial results, with the rest withheld and graded with a Q for ‘pending’.

This after alleged malpractice took place at the school, which has since led to the legal battle with the ministry. However, officials from both the ministry and the school remain tight-lipped on the matter.

“The school did not provide us with any information as to what will happen to the learners. We were instructed by Isak Hamatwi, the Ohangwena education director, to appeal for answers provided to the school by the education ministry, but they told us it’s confidential.” Ndahafa Nauyoma, a concerned parent of one of the learners, said their children have been left stranded at home with no prospects, forced to wait out the ongoing dispute, while their peers proceed with grade 12.

Vague

While the parents have been told that malpractice is at the root of the issue, they have not received any further information.

According to Nauyoma, their visit to Hamatwi only revealed that the school received letters from the ministry on two separate occasions, January and April - neither of which were shared with them.

In a recent meeting, the parents still could not get any information regarding their children’s futures.

“We thought they called us to finally tell us what the documents entailed. They only said it was malpractice, but could not disclose which kind,” she said.

The ministry's executive director Sanet Steenkamp declined to comment on a Namibian Sun inquiry into the matter, and whether the learners would be asked to repeat the grade, or finally proceed to grade 12 once everything has been ironed out.

“We understand the parents are not happy and do not want to accept the outcome as is. I cannot speak about that case because it is still pending in front of the lawyer. We will only be able to provide the full statement once this matter is finally completed,” she said.

Asked to pay for lawyer

Despite not having any answers about what’s going on, the parents said the school has since asked them to pay for a lawyer.

“Much to our dismay, the school requested N$2 000 from each parent to pay for the new lawyer taking the case to court – following the previous one whom they said they had paid N$171 000,” Nauyoma said.

She added that the school once requested their children to come to school to sign appeal letters from the ministry to help with the court case. According to her, the school said the letters' content was only for the learners, not their parents.

When approached for comment on why Savo Nuts refused to provide answers, school director Shingirai Mbuzi said they fear the parents might circulate the documents on social media. “This will tarnish the image of the school and consequently the education ministry,” he claimed.

Depressed, suicidal

Meanwhile, sources have revealed that two of the affected learners have attempted to die by suicide.

Nauyoma confirmed the severity of the matter, saying it has taken a toll on both the learners and their parents.

“We are currently in a dilemma. Our children are depressed. We had to take them to social workers to receive counselling because it has truly affected them. They currently have no idea what the future holds for them.”