GOVERNMENT cannot continue pumping money into a school where learners fail to perform due to a lack of discipline.
This is according to Education Deputy Minister David Namwandi, who made a surprise visit to Ella Du Plessis High School in Khomasdal yesterday morning. Namwandi made the surprise visit following a report of rampant teacher absenteeism at the school which appeared in The Namibian last week.No fewer than 12 teachers were absent from work on March 23 and the following Monday, March 26, another eight teachers were absent.Yesterday Namwandi showed up unexpected at the school and addressed teachers and pupils, but not before ordering that the school’s gates be locked to keep latecomers out.Namwandi gave pupils an opportunity to raise any concerns they might have about their teachers. One pupil said: ‘Ella is in chaos,’ and another complained of teacher absenteeism.Once the pupils had had their chance, Namwandi addressed the entire school and pointed at a lack of discipline, on the part of teachers and pupils alike, as the root cause of the school’s problems.Namwandi asked the pupils whether their teachers were constantly absent, whether they too were undisciplined, whether they used alcohol and drugs and whether some of them brought people other than their parents to school meetings, to all of which the learners answered ‘yes’.’Indiscipline is a problem,’ Namwandi said, adding that Ella Du Plessis performed poorly in Grade 10 and Grade 12 exams in 2011 and that this poor performance was due to the lack of discipline at the school.’We [Ministry of Education] cannot continue pumping money into this school if you are not performing,’ Namwandi said. Some of the students at the school complained that their teachers insult them in class, and Namwandi said although this should not be tolerated, pupils should be disciplined at all times.Namwandi described indiscipline at the school as a ‘disease which must be cured’, adding that ‘it is no wonder that the principal [Seth January] does not pick up any weight’.Namwandi said he was disheartened to learn that most of the school’s Grade 12 teachers are regularly absent, adding: ‘It is no wonder that you are failing’.The Education Deputy Minister said he expected teachers and pupils to be in class from Monday to Friday, adding that ‘special measures’ will be taken against those who are absent without valid reasons.Namwandi also said that an investigation will be launched into doctors who are issuing sick notes to teachers. Last week, school principal Januarie told The Namibian that there’s nothing he can do when absent teachers return to school with sick notes from doctors.Some pupils have blamed Angolan nationals who attend the school of being undisciplined and unruly in class. Responding to this, Namwandi said ‘there is not a black African in Namibia who is a foreigner’ adding that Angolan students must be treated equally, but also reminding Angolan pupils that they must respect the rules of the school.Namwandi said he will have a meeting with the school’s parents on Monday afternoon.’Die poppe sal dans (The fur will fly),’ Namwandi said as he warned the pupils that their school files would be checked if anyone is found bringing an individual other than one or both of their parents or a guardian to the meeting.Namwandi also said he was disappointed to hear that many of the school’s pupils do not have textbooks, but added that this situation would be sorted out immediately.
