Katrina targets sex pests
Katrina targets sex pests

Katrina targets sex pests

A draft education law also makes comprehensive sex education from grade 4 compulsory, while the minister “must take all reasonable measures” to make sure that basic necessities are provided in all schools.
Jemima Beukes
A draft bill makes it compulsory for education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa to report those impregnating schoolgirls aged younger than 16 to the relevant authorities, while staff guilty of fathering these babies will in addition be charged in accordance with the Public Service Act.

The Basic Education Bill, which has already provoked massive reaction in parliament, also says that schoolgirls should be allowed back at school once they have given birth.

It also makes comprehensive sex education for grade 4 learners compulsory and aims ensure that children stay in school, at least until they have reached the end of the school year in which they turn 18.

It stipulates that as part of the prevention and management of learner pregnancy, comprehensive sex education will be taught from grade 4 or “at an appropriate age”, while pregnant learners will also be referred to social workers.

The bill also states that no child may be denied admission because they have no birth certificate.

The minister is also obliged to ensure that basic necessities such as shelter, water, food, light, ventilation, sanitary facilities and access to emergency medical care are provided for in all schools.

Anyone who discriminates against a learner on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, colour, sex, religion, creed and social and economic status will be fined up to a maximum of N$20 000 or two years in prison.

The bill also makes it compulsory for any child with specialised educational needs who is older than three years to be in a special needs school if the permanent secretary decides this is in the best interest of the child.

In cases where a child is older than six and has not been admitted to any school, he or she must be admitted to a grade appropriate with their ability and age.



Harmful initiation practices

Schools are also not allowed to endanger the mental or physical health of a learner or undermine their intrinsic worth by treating some inferior to others, when so-called initiations are carried out.

The bill states that a conduct and discipline policy will be developed by the minister to safeguard learners against substance abuse, address absenteeism and ensure inclusive learning, among others.

It also says a principal may suspend a learner for misconduct at any time, while parents are expected to be the primary motivators when it comes to their children's educational development.



Search and seizure

The bill also outlines minimum standards for schools and hostels, and prohibits certain items from being carried onto the school grounds.





It also gives school staff the power to seize such items. These include explosive materials or devices, firearms, gas weapons or illegal drugs.

The principal or their delegate may randomly search any learner or group of learners or their property, if fair and reasonable suspicion exists.



Political activities

No political activities will be allowed at schools and no campaign materials of any political party may be displayed, unless such material is related to the school curriculum.

Permission will be granted by the regional director if he or she is satisfied that these political activities are in line with the Act and other relevant laws, and in the best interest of the learners.

These activities should also not interfere with teaching or learning time or be considered propaganda for political or religious agendas, or have a commercial or self-interest profit objective and seek to exploit learners



Fundraising

The bill also obligates state school boards to establish a school development fund and administer it as prescribed.

Such a fund may contain money raised by, or on the authority of the school board, and via voluntary contributions by any person.

Such contributions can be raised through fundraising campaigns or official school-related activities approved by the principal and the school board.

School development fund monies may not be paid into a trust or be used to establish a trust.



Learners cannot solicit funds

The PS may prescribe the manner and procedure for fundraising at state schools, but the bill prohibits the use of learners to solicit funds from the public.

The bill further makes it a crime for a school board or any other person to collect any money or contributions from parents, in order to circumvent or manipulate the payment of a voluntary parental contribution.

It says the school board may not pay or give a staff member any remuneration, financial benefit or benefit in-kind for services rendered to the school, without authorisation of the Public Service Commission.

A school board may, however, pay travel and subsistence (S&T) allowances for official school activities, but such expenses must be equivalent to what would have been payable to a staff member in similar circumstances under the Public Service Act.



Auditing of school financial records

Furthermore, state school boards must keep records of their income, expenses and financial transactions, and as soon as practicable (within three calendar months after the end of each financial year), draw up annual financial statements, in accordance with the prescribed standards.

The regional director will then be obliged to appoint an auditor to examine and report on the records and financial statements, but such an auditor must not have a financial interest in the affairs of the school.

If the minister considers it necessary, he or she may request the auditor-general to undertake an audit of the records and financial statements.

The school board must also submit to the regional director an audited copy of its annual financial statement within six calendar months after the end of the financial year.

These financial statements will be made available to any interested person.



Unnecessary litigation

Former education minister Nahas Angula said it is clear the minister intends well, but she must be careful that the bill does not invite unnecessary litigation.

He also argued that some of the provisions should rather be regulations, instead of law.

“In the end there are four important issues when it comes to education. Will it provide equitable access to learning, especially in the rural and urban context? Will the bill enable schools to open their doors to every learner? Does it ensure the quality of education? Will it ensure all necessary resources will be put in place?” Angula said.

He also emphasised that the Namibian constitution already makes education provision compulsory, but it still does not guarantee that children attend school.

“It is a noble idea; who is going to make sure, in terms of implementation, that children with disabilities attend school? If I have a hard-of-hearing child, but the school in my village cannot take my child, then I can take the school to court,” said Angula.

Last week, when the bill was tabled in parliament, Popular Democratic Movement MP Nico Smit said it seeks to fix what is not broken and attempts to usurp the role of parents in their children's education.

He also accused government of failing to sustain free education, leaving parents and teachers to find ways and means to supplement the inadequate funding provided by government, in order to keep schools afloat.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-29

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Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.77 | EUR to NAD 20.36 | CNY to NAD 2.61 | USD to NAD 18.89 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.14 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.89 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.77 | EUR to NAD 20.36 | CNY to NAD 2.61 | USD to NAD 18.89 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.14 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.89 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53%