Nantu investigates Hashiyana principal
11 January 2022 | Education
STAFF REPORTER
OSHAKATI
The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) is investigating Hashiyana Primary School principal Amon Ndeitwa over allegations of autocracy and discrimination in the workplace.
Titled ‘Lack of Humanity at Hashiyana Primary School’, the teachers submitted a petition to Oshana education regional director Hileni Amukana and Nantu dated 4 November 2021, and accused the principal of emotional abuse.
Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika confirmed the investigation to Namibian Sun on Monday. She said her office is dealing with it at the highest level and will provide feedback to the school by next week once the executive director, her office and Amukana’s have discussed the findings.
“We dispatched a team last year. They did an investigation at school level. It is receiving our highest attention so we can conclude the matter as soon as possible and to create a conducive and harmonious working environment. We have roped in the office of the executive director. I cannot divulge much as there are internal processes one needs to follow,” she said.
The teachers also channeled their complains to the school board.
“We the staff are writing this letter as a formal complaint against the principal. Please accept this letter as our formal grievance,” it read in part.
They claimed that “a lot” has been happening at the school and it all comes from the office of the principal, accusing him of discriminatory leadership.
“We have noticed forms of emotional violence from our supervisor such as intimidation (which is a major offence), emotional torture and inhumanity,” the letter further read.
Complaints
The teachers accused Ndeitwa of using offensive words to colleagues based on past conflicts. He has also been accused of washing his personal vehicle on school grounds on several occasions.
“There was a time when he ordered the caretaker not to wash other cars at the school apart from his, the principal’s car only.”
Other concerns include threats, overloading teachers and the abuse of power. “He stops other colleagues from moving to other classes to even interact with others,” the teachers claimed.
The teachers gave Nantu and Amukana’s office three working days to respond and threatened there will be no staff meetings at the school until they have received a response.
Several complaints have been made against Ndeitwa before, the teachers claimed, but nothing is done at regional level, hence the decision to inform Nantu.
Amukana said she has received the petition, and her office is working hand in hand with Nantu to attend to the matter.
“I cannot discuss staff members’ issues with the public. We are handling it,” she stressed.
Ndeitwa’s phone was not reachable at the time of going to print. The receptionist at the school said the principal was not in office and said they have no idea when he will return.
OSHAKATI
The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) is investigating Hashiyana Primary School principal Amon Ndeitwa over allegations of autocracy and discrimination in the workplace.
Titled ‘Lack of Humanity at Hashiyana Primary School’, the teachers submitted a petition to Oshana education regional director Hileni Amukana and Nantu dated 4 November 2021, and accused the principal of emotional abuse.
Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika confirmed the investigation to Namibian Sun on Monday. She said her office is dealing with it at the highest level and will provide feedback to the school by next week once the executive director, her office and Amukana’s have discussed the findings.
“We dispatched a team last year. They did an investigation at school level. It is receiving our highest attention so we can conclude the matter as soon as possible and to create a conducive and harmonious working environment. We have roped in the office of the executive director. I cannot divulge much as there are internal processes one needs to follow,” she said.
The teachers also channeled their complains to the school board.
“We the staff are writing this letter as a formal complaint against the principal. Please accept this letter as our formal grievance,” it read in part.
They claimed that “a lot” has been happening at the school and it all comes from the office of the principal, accusing him of discriminatory leadership.
“We have noticed forms of emotional violence from our supervisor such as intimidation (which is a major offence), emotional torture and inhumanity,” the letter further read.
Complaints
The teachers accused Ndeitwa of using offensive words to colleagues based on past conflicts. He has also been accused of washing his personal vehicle on school grounds on several occasions.
“There was a time when he ordered the caretaker not to wash other cars at the school apart from his, the principal’s car only.”
Other concerns include threats, overloading teachers and the abuse of power. “He stops other colleagues from moving to other classes to even interact with others,” the teachers claimed.
The teachers gave Nantu and Amukana’s office three working days to respond and threatened there will be no staff meetings at the school until they have received a response.
Several complaints have been made against Ndeitwa before, the teachers claimed, but nothing is done at regional level, hence the decision to inform Nantu.
Amukana said she has received the petition, and her office is working hand in hand with Nantu to attend to the matter.
“I cannot discuss staff members’ issues with the public. We are handling it,” she stressed.
Ndeitwa’s phone was not reachable at the time of going to print. The receptionist at the school said the principal was not in office and said they have no idea when he will return.
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