Pupil dies after punishment

POLICE at Ohangwena have arrested two teachers from the Ongha Senior Secondary School in connection with the death of a 17-year-old pupil on Friday.

Walberech Iipinge (30) and Abraham Ndjiku (30), appeared in the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning on charges of murder. They pleaded not guilty and the case was postponed to September 8 for further investigation.They were granted bail of N$1 000 each.The two teachers reportedly punished Festus Ndeevelo by ordering him to do push-ups after he had an argument with a fellow student on June 23.But whatever punishment was meted out, Ndeevelo could not attend school the next day.The pupil’s parents took him to a nearby clinic, which transferred him to the Oshakati State Hospital.It was found that his right arm was broken.His arm was put in a cast and he was discharged.On Friday, July 8, Ndeevelo died.The Ohangwena Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Armas Shivute, told The Namibian that the boy’s parents only reported the case to them after his death on Friday.Shivute said he was disappointed that the school had not reported the incident to the Police.”We are condemning this incident and we are disappointed in the school authority for not reporting such a serious incident to the Police,” Shivute said.When approached by The Namibian, the Principal of Ongha Senior Secondary School, Simeon Mutumbo, said Ndeevelo’s parents came to see him on Thursday about their son’s illness.According to Mutumbo, Ndeevelo had told his parents that he was punished with push-up exercises.The Circuit Inspector for Ohangwena, Thomas Johannes, told The Namibian that the school had informed him of the boy’s death on Friday, and he had forwarded the report to the Regional Director of Education, Josia Udjombala.Udjombala said yesterday that he was going to the school to personally investigate the matter.They pleaded not guilty and the case was postponed to September 8 for further investigation.They were granted bail of N$1 000 each.The two teachers reportedly punished Festus Ndeevelo by ordering him to do push-ups after he had an argument with a fellow student on June 23.But whatever punishment was meted out, Ndeevelo could not attend school the next day. The pupil’s parents took him to a nearby clinic, which transferred him to the Oshakati State Hospital.It was found that his right arm was broken.His arm was put in a cast and he was discharged.On Friday, July 8, Ndeevelo died.The Ohangwena Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Armas Shivute, told The Namibian that the boy’s parents only reported the case to them after his death on Friday.Shivute said he was disappointed that the school had not reported the incident to the Police.”We are condemning this incident and we are disappointed in the school authority for not reporting such a serious incident to the Police,” Shivute said.When approached by The Namibian, the Principal of Ongha Senior Secondary School, Simeon Mutumbo, said Ndeevelo’s parents came to see him on Thursday about their son’s illness.According to Mutumbo, Ndeevelo had told his parents that he was punished with push-up exercises.The Circuit Inspector for Ohangwena, Thomas Johannes, told The Namibian that the school had informed him of the boy’s death on Friday, and he had forwarded the report to the Regional Director of Education, Josia Udjombala.Udjombala said yesterday that he was going to the school to personally investigate the matter.