MINISTRY of Education, Arts and Culture executive director Sanet Steenkamp says the school principal of Shikongo Iipinge Secondary School will have to explain why pupils from his school attended a Swapo rally on Saturday.
The Namibian understands that principal Sylvester Shimuningeni released about 50 pupils at the school in Omusati region from the hostel to attend a Swapo rally held at Tsandi Stadium.
Steenkamp told The Namibian that the ministry does not support the release of pupils in boarding schools to attend political rallies.
“Our aim and focus remain that we are responsible for teaching and learning.
Since you said you have confirmed the principal allowed the pupils to go to the rally, we will make sure the principal explains his actions in this regard,” Steenkamp said.
A source from the school told The Namibian yesterday that the pupils were informed by one of their hostel supervisors that they were required to go and listen to “an important message at the stadium”.
According to the sources, only pupils who are 18 years old were required to attend the campaign rally.
The rally was addressed by urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni.
The source, a parent of one of the pupils who attended the rally, blamed the school for allowing the pupils to attend the rally, especially now when Covid-19 cases are on the increase in the north.
“The kids are not allowed to go out for shopping, even to go to church or for out weekends. We are very astounded that the school gave discretion to children to attend a Swapo rally,” the parent said.
According to a teacher at the school, they observed a difference in opinion in pupils who attended the rally.
“There is a division within those who attended because not all of them knew what was going on although some knew, as one of them was taking pictures of the people at the rally,” the teacher said.
The teacher added, “Only those from Tsandi constituency and in possession of voter’s cards were allowed to attend.”
Contacted for comment, Shimuningeni said the pupils themselves made the request to attend the rally.
He said the pupils from the school will be allowed to attend rallies of other parties, provided they have their masks on and they are eligible voters.
He also acknowledged that there was a pupil who came to his office yesterday morning to register her unhappiness because she was not privy to what the event was about before the learners were allowed to leave the school.
“I personally allowed them to attend and it is not only Swapo party (sic), any other candidate. Our pupils are first-time voters and we allow them to attend so that they will make the right decision on the day of the election,” he said.
Omusati acting director of education Pauline Shapumba refused to comment on the matter.
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