Eileen Private School in Kavango East defies directive, offers unauthorised Grade 10 classes

A private School in the Mukwe constituency of the Kavango East region is reportedly offering Grade 10 classes despite a directive from the region’s education directorate to stop the practice.

Eileen Private School is only authorised to offer classes from pre-primary to junior secondary (grades 8-9), but is accused of offering Grade 10 lessons without the required approval from authorities.

In a letter dated 15 January and addressed to the school, the regional education directorate warned it to immediately discontinue from the practice.

Education director Christine Shilima yesterday said the school has not stopped or removed the pupils despite her instructions.

“We informed them in writing in January not to offer Grade 10, but they did not stop. In a meeting held two weeks ago, we again told them that pupils should be removed.

I’m now waiting for the inspector’s report on whether they have stopped or not,” she said.

In the letter, Shilima explains that when a school intends to deviate from the terms and conditions specified in its certificate of registration, a new application must be submitted for approval in terms of the Basic Education Act.

She says the school’s actions violate the law as it did not send an application to offer Grade 10.

Shilima says she then instructed school principal George Mukwengo to inform the pupils’ parents to seek placement at other schools.

In response to the letter, Eileen Private owner Benson Chizengeya says the school had previously maintained a positive working relationship with the circuit’s education inspector, Theofillus Kadhimo.

However, he says recent developments have created “matters that are critically impacting the stability, morale, and educational environment of the school”, alleging that Kadhimo’s approach has created difficulties in the school’s administration.

“Kadhimo’s approach, characterised by what we perceive to be arbitrary decisions, unwarranted delays in critical approvals, and a dismissive, often adversarial, communication style, has created a hostile and unproductive environment,” Chizengeya says.

He adds that the ongoing uncertainty has shifted the school’s focus away from its core responsibility.

“It undermines our authority as owners, demoralises our dedicated teaching and administrative staff, and ultimately threatens to compromise the quality of education we are committed to providing our students,” he says.

Chizengeya notes that the school had attempted to resolve the matter directly with the inspector. Mukwengo yesterday told The Namibian that the matter is not in his hands.

“Those things are in the hands of the ministry and they are actually looking into the matter. As you are speaking to me now, the regional director is on the case.

I can’t answer such questions which are not concluded,” he says.
He adds that an application was submitted to the education directorate for the registration of Grade 10 at the school.

“The regional director actually confirmed that the file could have been approved a long time ago, so they are still working on it,” Mukwengo said.

Kadhimo, in a letter responding to the school, rejected the allegation, noting that his office is committed to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the laws governing education.

He says Chizengeya failed to update his documentation to reflect the current governance structure as advised by the inspection team, and insisted that the circuit resolve the matter without the necessary compliance steps.

“I reject the allegations levelled against my office, which portray my conduct as arbitrary, adversarial, and detrimental to the school’s operations.

At no point has this office acted outside the provisions of the Basic Education Act,” he says.

Kadhimo says an inspection done on 11 June 2025 found the school to be non-compliant with education regulations and revealed that the school operates from a shopping complex, where pupils are accommodated in small office spaces converted into classrooms.

“These conditions raise concerns regarding compliance with registration standards and the overall suitability of the learning environment.

We received complaints from parents regarding operational matters, which have been communicated to the school for corrective action, but advice and guidance have often been disregarded,” he says.

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