Vision School expels pupil

A Vision School pupil, who is said to be the daughter of a Rundu-based education inspector, has been expelled.

Yesterday, the principal of the Divundu school, Moses Gorengecho, confirmed Irene Kangungu’s dismissal, saying the Kavango Education Regional Director, Alfons Dikuua, ordered her dismissal following last week’s allegations that she is the daughter of education inspector Boniface Kangungu and Andreas Kandjimi Primary School principal Julia Kangungu.

“Until now, I have not established whether the girl is indeed the daughter of the education officer. All I can confirm is that she was sent packing on Sunday by the Director of Education and further investigation into the case continues,” said Gorengecho.

Dikuua also confirmed that he immediately ordered the girl’s expulsion upon hearing that she had been admitted at the school. “Yes, I ordered her expulsion and gave instructions for her to be readmitted at her previous school,” he said.

Dikuua added that he has known the Kangungu family for years and that his decision was not based on unfounded accusations. “I know for a fact that the family has a daughter named Irene, and if she is not the same Irene, then the family should come forward and prove it” he said.

Dikuua also challenged Kangungu to produce official documents to prove that the girl is not his daughter, but said Kangungu is still to produce those documents.

“We are still investigating how a child from a well-off family secured a place at a school that is supposed to cater for disadvantaged learners,” he said.

Dikuua also claimed that the education director in charge of the selections, Maria Eises Muguru, had told him that when the girl first informed them that she was Kangungu’s niece, they had believed her claim without further confirming if it was true.

Sources also told The Namibian that there were a few more learners who were related to education officials at the school, and who were admitted there in a similar manner.

Dikuua denied knowing anything about the additional allegations. “Should there be more learners who were admitted at the school under corrupt practices, the school will notify me and we will take related action,” he said.

When approached by The Namibian, Kangungu reserved his comments. “This is all your fault. What more do you want me to say? It’s none of your business,” he said.

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