Principal faces probe over alleged assault

The education ministry has indicated that it will launch an investigation into a common assault case reported at Rundu Junior Primary School last week involving the school principal and a female teacher, Fey Pinto.

Education executive director (ED) Sanet Steenkamp yesterday said due processes will be followed to get to the bottom of the matter.

“It is unacceptable and no one should be petrified and filled with fear at a school,” said Steenkamp.

Principal Christian Kauyu (56) was charged with common assault last Thursday after he allegedly threw a plastic juice container at Pinto, believed to be a head of department (HOD) at the school, during a management meeting.

“There was no physical fighting at the school, as we were in the management meeting with the entire HODs. I am aware that people are behind this message. They want to get what they want. I am confident that this is not true and we made peace already after the meeting with the inspector of education,” said Kauyu, when contacted for comment yesterday.

According to a police report, Kauyu threw the container at the victim, inflicting pain on her arm.

Acting regional education director Christine Shilima, when contacted for comment, said she had engaged the circuit inspector who confirmed that the incident occurred last Wednesday between the school principal and one of the HODs at the school.

“These are managers managing a school and what I need to do is I will try to get the full information as to what has happened. If we happen to find that it is truly an assault, what we normally do is follow the public service staff rules,” said Shilima.

She added that the office of the ED will then determine if the principal is to be charged based on the allegations.

A teacher at the school told The Namibian yesterday that the issue started when the HOD and one teacher were tasked to print certificates for the pre-primary pupils.

However, the certificates only contained space for the teacher and deputy principal’s signature. They were then instructed by Kauyu to alter the certificates.

The teacher, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said the principal then called for an urgent management meeting at around 13h00 last Wednesday.

While they were in the meeting, the principal then informed the attendants that Rumanyo teachers wanted to have a meeting but were told to arrange the meeting formally and come up with an agenda.

This allegedly sparked an argument between the principal and the HOD, said the teacher.

The teacher said the principal took a container and threw it at the HOD. The HOD then threw it back in retaliation, which is when the principal reportedly wanted to charge at the HOD. However, a member of the school board stopped the principal and the HOD walked out of the meeting.

“When she walked out, her son was at the school waiting to pick his mother up from work and upon hearing what had transpired, her son was angered and wanted to confront the principal. Luckily, the doors to the principal’s office were locked.”

According to the teacher, Pinto proceeded to register a complaint with the police against the principal.

“We were told that the issue is in the hands of the police, but what if the member of the school board was not present, what could have happened to the HOD? Currently, the working environment at the school is very toxic and we are not free at all,” said the concerned teacher.

Kauyu has so far been charged with common assault and has paid a fine of N$500 for admission of guilt.