Parents threaten to boycott Duneside matric farewell

Parents of grade 12 learners at Duneside High School in Walvis Bay are up in arms after the principal, Anne Einbeck, informed 29 students that they would not be given an opportunity to conduct a valedictory ceremony this year. Einbeck refused to comment on the issue. In a letter signed by her and a member of the school governing body, Einbeck informed the learners’ parents about her decision. She said some learners entered the school premises during the early hours of July 10 and vandalised the school building. They also denounced teachers in posters put up in the school passages during their ‘40 Days’ function, an event that usually takes place before the final exams. The affected learners’ parents subsequently wrote a letter to the school governing body and the Ministry of Education, calling for their intervention after numerous failed attempts to meet with the principal in the past three weeks. They convened a meeting on July 30 at which they decided to boycott this year’s matric farewell. The parents also indicated that they would organise their own valedictory and matric farewell functions and requested that the school refund financial contributions made towards the functions by not later than August 3 should the principal refuse to rescind her decision. They further expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s decision to cancel the valedictory ceremony, saying the event forms part of Duneside tradition that was established more than 15 years ago. According to them, permission was initially granted to host the 40 Days event and on July 9 the learners were informed that it was cancelled with the approval of the school management. “The apparent reason for the decision was due to a lack of supervision, but when we offered to supervise the children, the principal refused.” The parents called on the regional office of the Ministry of Education to look into the issue. “We requested a meeting with the principal three weeks ago but she avoided us. That’s why we arrived unannounced at the school on Thursday July 30, caught her by surprise and handed over a petition signed by parents and students. “She could not provide answers for us while school management members confirmed in her presence that there were no acts of vandalism committed by the learners. “We also discovered that school management was never consulted on the decision not to have the valedictory. She must explain the allegations levelled against our children contained in the letter she issued,” the parents demanded. WALVIS BAY OTIS FINCK