Oshigambo learners to resume classes
Eises accuses board of ‘playing with learners’ education’
Oshikoto regional education director Aletta Eises has accused the Oshigambo High School board of ‘playing with learners’ education’.
This after school board chairperson Simon Iitula on Saturday told parents not to bring their children to school as it will not open its doors for the second semester due to Eises’ refusal to release subsidy funds.
Iitula said the school administration is prepared to receive learners as soon as the necessary funds for food and other essential needs are provided.
By yesterday morning, the school released another letter which stated that parents can return their children to the school as the dispute had been resolved. Iitula extended his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to the education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp “for the prompt and effective intervention in resolving the matter”.
Not aware
Speaking to Namibian Sun in a telephonic interview yesterday, Eises said she was not aware the school had released a letter and instructed parents not to take learners back to school for the second semester.
An irritated Eises directed questions to the school board, saying they issued their letter without informing the circuit inspector or the director’s office.
Asked whether the funds were paid into the school’s account, she said: “They must check their accounts. If people want to focus on Oshigambo, they can do that. We have 229 schools in the Oshikoto Region who comply with good governance. We are here to focus on teaching and learning for all learners against all odds. Find out why they are playing around with the learners’ education on social media”.
Unprocedural expulsion
The squabbles at the school follow the expulsion of two learners from the hostel earlier this year. In June, Steenkamp wrote to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) general secretary John Haufiku that the ministry requested a detailed report regarding the school’s operations, adding that the regional directorate office would be instructed to cease all subsidies to the school until it complied with the request.
Steenkamp argued that the learners were expelled unprocedurally.
The school management countered that it would not comply with the ministry’s demands and would face the consequences thereof.
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This after school board chairperson Simon Iitula on Saturday told parents not to bring their children to school as it will not open its doors for the second semester due to Eises’ refusal to release subsidy funds.
Iitula said the school administration is prepared to receive learners as soon as the necessary funds for food and other essential needs are provided.
By yesterday morning, the school released another letter which stated that parents can return their children to the school as the dispute had been resolved. Iitula extended his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to the education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp “for the prompt and effective intervention in resolving the matter”.
Not aware
Speaking to Namibian Sun in a telephonic interview yesterday, Eises said she was not aware the school had released a letter and instructed parents not to take learners back to school for the second semester.
An irritated Eises directed questions to the school board, saying they issued their letter without informing the circuit inspector or the director’s office.
Asked whether the funds were paid into the school’s account, she said: “They must check their accounts. If people want to focus on Oshigambo, they can do that. We have 229 schools in the Oshikoto Region who comply with good governance. We are here to focus on teaching and learning for all learners against all odds. Find out why they are playing around with the learners’ education on social media”.
Unprocedural expulsion
The squabbles at the school follow the expulsion of two learners from the hostel earlier this year. In June, Steenkamp wrote to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) general secretary John Haufiku that the ministry requested a detailed report regarding the school’s operations, adding that the regional directorate office would be instructed to cease all subsidies to the school until it complied with the request.
Steenkamp argued that the learners were expelled unprocedurally.
The school management countered that it would not comply with the ministry’s demands and would face the consequences thereof.
– [email protected]
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