THE King Kauluma Combined School in the Oshikoto region is accused of depriving children of an education as latecomers are sent home.
Some parents at the school claim more than 20 pupils are sent home on a daily basis.
"How are these kids expected to perform academically when they are missing out on lessons? Most of them walk more than 6km to and from school each day. They get up as early as 04h00 to prepare and walk to school," a concerned parent says.
"From as early as 08h30 you find pupils in their uniforms walking away from the school – all turned away.
"If a pupil is late three times a week, it means they only get taught two days a week," another parent says.
School principal Andrew Akawa this week said sending pupils home for latecoming is a disciplinary measure.
"Most of these children are deliberate. Latecoming has become too much. You will find five pupils missing from a classroom from 08h25 until 09h00 or 10h00.
"We have had meetings with parents on the matter," Akawa said.
"Parents should understand we are doing this for their children's benefit. They are missing out on the first three lessons of school when they arrive late.
"In fact, before we started these measures you would find half of the pupils in class, but now 95% of the class is full," he said.
Education director of the Oshikoto region Eises Thanises yesterday said she could not comment yet.
"We are currently investigating the claims and will update you on the findings once we are done," she said.
