Axing of Khoekhoegowab lessons sparks protest at Auas Primary School
'We are not asking for permission to exist in this country'
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp acknowledged the seriousness of the claims and said an independent task force would be established.
Auas Primary School in Katutura became the epicentre of a heated cultural and educational protest on Tuesday, as parents, educators and activists rallied against what they describe as the “systematic removal” of Khoekhoegowab language from the school’s curriculum.
Led by social justice activist Shaun Gariseb, a petition detailing the grievances and demands of the community was handed over to education minister Sanet Steenkamp.
At the heart of the protest is the removal of a Khoekhoegowab pre-primary language lesson, reportedly replaced by an Oshikwanyama class.
Gariseb and community members argue that this shift represents a broader, long-standing trend of erasing indigenous languages from public schools, a move they say is not only discriminatory but unconstitutional.
“This is not about one principal or one decision,” said Gariseb. “It is about a systemic agenda of cultural erasure. Teachers have been victimised, sidelined and unemployed because they teach in their native language. This cannot continue.”
Gariseb further referenced similar alleged removals at Moses ǁGaroëb and Groot Aub schools, claiming they followed the same pattern under the same leadership. “We are not going to allow that principal to spend another day at this school while our kids are being oppressed,” he said.
Gariseb warned that if the ministry does not provide “sufficient answers” by 5 May, a nationwide boycott of schools will follow, with mobilisation already underway across multiple regions.
“We are not asking for permission to exist in this country,” Gariseb declared. “We are claiming our national space with truth as our compass and justice as our direction.”
Demands outlined
The 10-page petition included details relating to the removal of the lesson and demands that included an immediate launch of an independent investigation into the language stream changes, the freezing of newly created Oshikwanyama teaching posts at Auas Primary and the removal of the current principal pending the investigation.
Moreover, the protestors advocate for the "protection of minority-language teachers from victimisation and job insecurity".
In response, Steenkamp acknowledged the seriousness of the claims and said an independent task force would be established. “If an injustice was done at this school, or another school, it will be corrected,” she said, emphasising that no language or culture is superior to another in the Namibian House.
The protest received further backing from the Damara Kings' Council Youth Wing, which issued a separate media release calling the removal of Khoekhoegowab “a violation of constitutional rights”.
The youth wing urged the government to reflect on the lessons of the 1976 Soweto Uprising as African Child Day approaches on 16 June. “We must remember this history and uphold these principles to foster justice and equality for all communities,” said acting chair Bebe ǀHûseb.
Led by social justice activist Shaun Gariseb, a petition detailing the grievances and demands of the community was handed over to education minister Sanet Steenkamp.
At the heart of the protest is the removal of a Khoekhoegowab pre-primary language lesson, reportedly replaced by an Oshikwanyama class.
Gariseb and community members argue that this shift represents a broader, long-standing trend of erasing indigenous languages from public schools, a move they say is not only discriminatory but unconstitutional.
“This is not about one principal or one decision,” said Gariseb. “It is about a systemic agenda of cultural erasure. Teachers have been victimised, sidelined and unemployed because they teach in their native language. This cannot continue.”
Gariseb further referenced similar alleged removals at Moses ǁGaroëb and Groot Aub schools, claiming they followed the same pattern under the same leadership. “We are not going to allow that principal to spend another day at this school while our kids are being oppressed,” he said.
Gariseb warned that if the ministry does not provide “sufficient answers” by 5 May, a nationwide boycott of schools will follow, with mobilisation already underway across multiple regions.
“We are not asking for permission to exist in this country,” Gariseb declared. “We are claiming our national space with truth as our compass and justice as our direction.”
Demands outlined
The 10-page petition included details relating to the removal of the lesson and demands that included an immediate launch of an independent investigation into the language stream changes, the freezing of newly created Oshikwanyama teaching posts at Auas Primary and the removal of the current principal pending the investigation.
Moreover, the protestors advocate for the "protection of minority-language teachers from victimisation and job insecurity".
In response, Steenkamp acknowledged the seriousness of the claims and said an independent task force would be established. “If an injustice was done at this school, or another school, it will be corrected,” she said, emphasising that no language or culture is superior to another in the Namibian House.
The protest received further backing from the Damara Kings' Council Youth Wing, which issued a separate media release calling the removal of Khoekhoegowab “a violation of constitutional rights”.
The youth wing urged the government to reflect on the lessons of the 1976 Soweto Uprising as African Child Day approaches on 16 June. “We must remember this history and uphold these principles to foster justice and equality for all communities,” said acting chair Bebe ǀHûseb.
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