Pupils suspended over drinking

SIX eighth-graders have been suspended from the PK De Villiers High School at Keetmanshoop after they were allegedly caught drinking alcohol on the school premises on Monday.

The Namibian has established that the pupils were sent home for three days pending the outcome of a school board meeting tomorrow. The suspended pupils would be allowed to sit in during the school board meeting, The Namibian was informed.The headmaster of the school, MJ Nel, yesterday confirmed the suspension but declined to give further information.Asked for comment, Deputy Education Director Celi Mostert said the suspension was in line with normal disciplinary action.Mostert could also not give more details on the suspension.”We’re still waiting for a report from the school,” she said.The Namibian was reliably informed that one of the pupils had brought to school alcohol mixed with cooldrink in a plastic bottle and shared it with others during the break.A parent of one of the pupils, who prefers not to be named, told The Namibian that the pupil accidentally picked up the bottle filled with alcohol at home.”It was not the intention of the pupil to bring alcohol to school,” the parent claimed.The suspended pupils would be allowed to sit in during the school board meeting, The Namibian was informed.The headmaster of the school, MJ Nel, yesterday confirmed the suspension but declined to give further information.Asked for comment, Deputy Education Director Celi Mostert said the suspension was in line with normal disciplinary action.Mostert could also not give more details on the suspension.”We’re still waiting for a report from the school,” she said.The Namibian was reliably informed that one of the pupils had brought to school alcohol mixed with cooldrink in a plastic bottle and shared it with others during the break.A parent of one of the pupils, who prefers not to be named, told The Namibian that the pupil accidentally picked up the bottle filled with alcohol at home.”It was not the intention of the pupil to bring alcohol to school,” the parent claimed.