Iivula-Ithana warns against ‘wolf’ male teachers

HOME affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana told pupils at Tsandi on Friday that while they should respect their teachers, they should be on the lookout for predators looking to exploit schoolgirls.

Iivula-Ithana, who was addressing Omusati pupils during the region’s annual awards ceremony, said those male teachers involved in inappropriate relationships with female pupils did not have the interests of pupils at heart.

“These are wolves amongst you. Do not place yourself in the hands and control of any person other than your parents or guardians and your education,” she said, adding that some male teachers impregnate pupils and then deny responsibility.

“They make their evil things, and want to deny. Some even go to your parents to buy their silence,” she said, warning schoolgirls not to engage in sexual relations, but to concentrate on their studies.

“Let this (book) be your boyfriend. Concentrate on investing in your future through acquiring your education. Always strive to be a woman of significance in your society,” she advised. “Discipline is one of the key elements to your success. Be respectful to your teachers, your peers and the entire community.”

She urged the teachers to carry out their duties with love, dedication and loyalty because the children’s future was in their hands.

The success of pupils, she said, was determined by their teachers’ dedication to making a difference in their lives.

“As I have stated on numerous occasions, learners come hungry and thirsty for the best quality education from you so that when they get to your age, they will enjoy the fruits of education,” she noted.

Omusati education director Laban Shapange urged teachers, education inspectors and other officials to focus on improving the region’s grades and educational quality.

“What we need to do is to put more effort in producing quality symbols because the majority of our leaners are concentrated at symbols D, E and F, and as a region we are falling in category C,” he said.

Omusati has 280 schools, 94 667 pupils and 4 163 teachers.

Last year, 5 223 pupils sat for the National Junior Secondary Certificate Examination, of whom 3 382 were promoted to Grade 11.

At the NSSC/H level, 3 223 pupils sat for the examination, and 653 qualified to go to university, while 1 868 qualified for other courses, including vocational training.

The region was ranked third in the JSC examination level, and eight in the NSSC/O examination level. Schools and teachers which performed well at Grades 10 and 12 levels were awarded trophies, medals and certificates at Friday’s ceremony.