THE suspended principal of Concordia College, Ben Awoseb, accused of the sexual harassment of school girls and staff, is unlikely to return to school soon.
On Friday, Awoseb made a third appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of indecent assault of a Grade 12 pupil in March. Magistrate Sarel Jacobs postponed the case for plea and trial until January 6, 2006.Awoseb’s bail of N$1000 has been extended.Awoseb has been on suspension since April, when the girl laid a charge with the Police that Awoseb had driven her from the school premises to the Ausspannplatz area, where he allegedly started kissing and touching her.Awoseb has won an appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office to be paid during his suspension.Ministry of Education officials said on Friday that a disciplinary committee had now been approved to hear further allegations of sexual harassment from other pupils and staff laid with the regional education directorate.They have submitted detailed reports to the Ministry accusing Awoseb of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards them, but have not made any criminal complaints against him.They continue to consult a school counsellor in the employ of the Education Ministry for psychological treatment.Awoseb joined Concordia College last year July.Sexual harassment claims were brought to the attention of the school management soon afterwards in November.The school has accused of the Ministry being too slow to act against Awoseb and it was not until April, when a criminal charge was laid against him, that he was removed from the school.He has previously been accused of inappropriate relations with schoolgirls at another school where he taught.However, the Khomas Regional Directorate said formal complaints were never laid with the Ministry, which made it difficult to pursue the matter in the past.A personnel officer from the Ministry told The Namibian on Friday that it still needed to appoint an investigating officer to research the claims made against Awoseb before the disciplinary committee could start considering the host of charges against him.The official said it could take until the end of the year before this process could begin.Awoseb would have the right to have his legal practitioners defend him before the disciplinary committee.Awoseb was represented by Hennie Barnard before the court.A head of department has been appointed acting principal in Awoseb’s absence.The Ministry said it would have to extend the acting appointment until the matter against Awoseb has been concluded.Magistrate Sarel Jacobs postponed the case for plea and trial until January 6, 2006.Awoseb’s bail of N$1000 has been extended.Awoseb has been on suspension since April, when the girl laid a charge with the Police that Awoseb had driven her from the school premises to the Ausspannplatz area, where he allegedly started kissing and touching her.Awoseb has won an appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office to be paid during his suspension.Ministry of Education officials said on Friday that a disciplinary committee had now been approved to hear further allegations of sexual harassment from other pupils and staff laid with the regional education directorate.They have submitted detailed reports to the Ministry accusing Awoseb of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards them, but have not made any criminal complaints against him.They continue to consult a school counsellor in the employ of the Education Ministry for psychological treatment.Awoseb joined Concordia College last year July.Sexual harassment claims were brought to the attention of the school management soon afterwards in November.The school has accused of the Ministry being too slow to act against Awoseb and it was not until April, when a criminal charge was laid against him, that he was removed from the school.He has previously been accused of inappropriate relations with schoolgirls at another school where he taught.However, the Khomas Regional Directorate said formal complaints were never laid with the Ministry, which made it difficult to pursue the matter in the past.A personnel officer from the Ministry told The Namibian on Friday that it still needed to appoint an investigating officer to research the claims made against Awoseb before the disciplinary committee could start considering the host of charges against him.The official said it could take until the end of the year before this process could begin.Awoseb would have the right to have his legal practitioners defend him before the disciplinary committee.Awoseb was represented by Hennie Barnard before the court.A head of department has been appointed acting principal in Awoseb’s absence.The Ministry said it would have to extend the acting appointment until the matter against Awoseb has been concluded.
