The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has criticised the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) for shutting the gates of Minna Sachs Primary School at Keetmanshoop.
Political activist and new LPM member Michael Amushelelo led a protest against the appointment of the school’s principal on Monday morning.
This follows reports from some parents that the appointment was done without the school board’s recommendation.
The dispute has resulted in several protests, prompting the education and justice ministries to dispatch their respective executive directors to address the matter on Thursday and Friday.
Education executive director Sanet Steenkamp slammed the latest protest as “the politicisation of the education of our children”.
She called for the intervention of the police and the regional director to resolve the matter amicably.
“It is with utter dismay and a deep sense of disappointment that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture just learned that the school gates of Minna Sachs Primary School at Keetmanshoop in the //Kharas region have been closed by Michael Amushelelo and some other LPM members, including the chairperson of the regional council in //Kharas,” said Steenkamp.
“This comes after two days of extensive consultation, where I as the accounting officer, accompanied by the executive director of the Ministry of Justice, Gladice Pickering, and her team, went under the directives of the education minister to clearly listen but also explain against a petition that was handed over requesting a Khoekhoegowab-speaking person to be appointed at the school,” Steenkamp added.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
