Sex scandals jolt school

FIVE pupils at the PK De Villiers Secondary School at Keetmanshoop have been expelled after being found in possession of pornographic material at school and for indecent behaviour in public.

The Ministry of Basic Education recently approved a school board recommendation that the pupils be expelled. But the parents of some of the affected pupils claim that racial discrimination influenced the decision.Parents of the pupils, who are all black, allege that some white pupils had done worse things – such as have sex in the prefects’ room – but were only given warnings by the school authorities.The Principal, Marthinus Nel, yesterday denied allegations of racism and partiality.”The school board was voted in in a free and fair election and my personnel are multi-racial with 90 per cent of the learners being black children,” he said.Earlier Nel had refused to comment on the issue, saying it was a “school matter”.The male pupils among the five who were expelled allegedly exposed their genitals in public and shouted to onlookers from a bus: “If you know what I mean, you can get it”.Others were charged with having pornographic material at school, to which they admitted guilt.Some parents argue that while they do not condone the behaviour of their children, the school should have acted fairly across the board.One parent said a teacher caught two white pupils having sex in a prefects’ room.Only the male pupil was suspended – for a term – and his prefects badge was confiscated.It was handed back to him after the suspension was lifted.When the principal was asked about this incident, he declined to comment.He said the matter was “sensitive”.Parents of the pupils booted by the school lodged an appeal with the Ministry of Basic Education head office in Windhoek after the school board decided on February 24 to expel them.One parent claimed to The Namibian yesterday that there had been discrimination from the moment the cases were opened.”White children are being protected and we see no purpose in pushing it any further.It is like hitting against a wall,” he claimed.On April 13, Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma wrote back telling the parents that the school board’s decision was in order.”We in the Ministry regard the issue of discipline and order at schools in a serious light and expect learners to abide by the rules and code of conduct of the school.It is our considered opinion that your children, as individuals, have pleaded guilty on the charges,” she wrote.Senior Education Inspector in the Karas Region, Petrus Titus, said his directorate followed the right procedures after the disciplinary hearing by holding meetings with the school board, management and concerned parents of the pupils.One expelled pupil, who preferred anonymity, accused the school management – which comprises mostly of white teachers – of “double standards”.But the parents of some of the affected pupils claim that racial discrimination influenced the decision.Parents of the pupils, who are all black, allege that some white pupils had done worse things – such as have sex in the prefects’ room – but were only given warnings by the school authorities.The Principal, Marthinus Nel, yesterday denied allegations of racism and partiality. “The school board was voted in in a free and fair election and my personnel are multi-racial with 90 per cent of the learners being black children,” he said.Earlier Nel had refused to comment on the issue, saying it was a “school matter”.The male pupils among the five who were expelled allegedly exposed their genitals in public and shouted to onlookers from a bus: “If you know what I mean, you can get it”.Others were charged with having pornographic material at school, to which they admitted guilt.Some parents argue that while they do not condone the behaviour of their children, the school should have acted fairly across the board.One parent said a teacher caught two white pupils having sex in a prefects’ room.Only the male pupil was suspended – for a term – and his prefects badge was confiscated.It was handed back to him after the suspension was lifted.When the principal was asked about this incident, he declined to comment.He said the matter was “sensitive”.Parents of the pupils booted by the school lodged an appeal with the Ministry of Basic Education head office in Windhoek after the school board decided on February 24 to expel them.One parent claimed to The Namibian yesterday that there had been discrimination from the moment the cases were opened.”White children are being protected and we see no purpose in pushing it any further.It is like hitting against a wall,” he claimed.On April 13, Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma wrote back telling the parents that the school board’s decision was in order.”We in the Ministry regard the issue of discipline and order at schools in a serious light and expect learners to abide by the rules and code of conduct of the school.It is our considered opinion that your children, as individuals, have pleaded guilty on the charges,” she wrote.Senior Education Inspector in the Karas Region, Petrus Titus, said his directorate followed the right procedures after the disciplinary hearing by holding meetings with the school board, management and concerned parents of the pupils. One expelled pupil, who preferred anonymity, accused the school management – which comprises mostly of white teachers – of “double standards”.