Ministry applauds schools
Parents urged to remain calm and to follow guidelines
Enzo Amuele
Otjiwarongo
The executive director of the ministry of education, arts and culture, Sanet Steenkamp, has applauded school principals and everybody involved in admissions at the school, circuit and regional levels.
Steenkamp said there are hardworking and committed staff members at all these levels who are honest, authentic and have the best interest of the learners at heart.
“My appreciation as accounting officer of [the ministry] is to say thank you for the sacrifices. We know it has been a frustrating and inundated time and not everyone is understanding,” she said.
Steenkamp called on parents who still have not found place for their children to remain calm and adhere to the guidelines provided by the schools and the regional directors.
Placement bribery
Taljaard Uaputauka, a teacher at Orwetoveni Primary School in Otjiwarongo, commented on the alarming matter of backdoor placement of learners.
Uaputauka said some parents have realised that teachers are in need of money, and therefore vulnerable to bribery. These parents exploit this situation as they are desperate to find school placement for their children.
“My advice to teachers is to kindly apply your mind carefully when engaging parents. Do not be tempted by money they are offering you as it might have serious repercussions in the future,” he says.
On the other hand, a parent who chose to remain anonymous said he had been approached by several teachers who offered to secure placement for his son in exchange for money.
“I have applied for placement for my son at 10 schools and all the schools I applied to rejected him. I started doing follow-ups with the schools until I was approached by some teachers who were demanding payments between N$500 and N$1 000 to secure placement for my son,” he said.
The parent added that some schools are putting learners on a waiting list but if you have money to pay a teacher, your child will get a place, and this makes things difficult for those who cannot afford to pay.
Steenkamp urged teachers to remain ethical in their dealings as they will not allow any person within the education sector to get away with corrupt practices such as taking bribes.
Otjiwarongo
The executive director of the ministry of education, arts and culture, Sanet Steenkamp, has applauded school principals and everybody involved in admissions at the school, circuit and regional levels.
Steenkamp said there are hardworking and committed staff members at all these levels who are honest, authentic and have the best interest of the learners at heart.
“My appreciation as accounting officer of [the ministry] is to say thank you for the sacrifices. We know it has been a frustrating and inundated time and not everyone is understanding,” she said.
Steenkamp called on parents who still have not found place for their children to remain calm and adhere to the guidelines provided by the schools and the regional directors.
Placement bribery
Taljaard Uaputauka, a teacher at Orwetoveni Primary School in Otjiwarongo, commented on the alarming matter of backdoor placement of learners.
Uaputauka said some parents have realised that teachers are in need of money, and therefore vulnerable to bribery. These parents exploit this situation as they are desperate to find school placement for their children.
“My advice to teachers is to kindly apply your mind carefully when engaging parents. Do not be tempted by money they are offering you as it might have serious repercussions in the future,” he says.
On the other hand, a parent who chose to remain anonymous said he had been approached by several teachers who offered to secure placement for his son in exchange for money.
“I have applied for placement for my son at 10 schools and all the schools I applied to rejected him. I started doing follow-ups with the schools until I was approached by some teachers who were demanding payments between N$500 and N$1 000 to secure placement for my son,” he said.
The parent added that some schools are putting learners on a waiting list but if you have money to pay a teacher, your child will get a place, and this makes things difficult for those who cannot afford to pay.
Steenkamp urged teachers to remain ethical in their dealings as they will not allow any person within the education sector to get away with corrupt practices such as taking bribes.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article