Oshigambo students boycott classes over teacher

MORE than 40 grade 10 students at the Oshigambo High School boycotted classes on Friday after their accounting relief teacher left the school because of non-payment of his September salary.

Sakaria Wapulile was hired in July to perform relief duties at the school, but according the students who spoke to The Namibian he was employed without any contract. He left the school last Thursday. The students said Wapulile told them that he is leaving because the school does not want to pay him and also does not want to employ him on a contract basis like other non-permanent teachers.The pupils then decided to take up the teacher’s case and approached the principal, Hendrick Shikonda, for explanation.The principal, instead of listening to the concerns of the students, allegedly threatened to blacklist them and not allow them back next year. They then approached the circuit inspector, Nicky Uugwanga, who pleaded ignorance about the developments.However, Uugwanga is said to have phoned Wapulile and asked him to return.The principal called the parents of the children he had blacklisted and allegedly told them that their children would not be allowed back at Oshigambo High School next year because they had instigated others to boycott classes.Pastor Frans Imene, who is a member of the school board, said they were not informed of this problem and the principal acted on his own accord.Some teachers at the school also accused the principal of dictatorial tendencies and doing things without consulting school management.The Namibian tried to contact Shikonda for comment, but without success, as he is attending a workshop elsewhere.Circuit inspector Uugwanga could also not be reached for comment.

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