The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture (MoEAC) has warned against the politicisation of education after members of the Landless People's Movement (LPM) allegedly locked the gates of a primary school at Keetmanshoop.

The protest, which took place at Minna Sachs Primary School, was allegedly led by LPM's Michael Amushelelo and some regional leaders.

The protest follows an alleged petition by some parents at the school, who demanded the appointment of a Khoekhoegowab-speaking principal despite consultations. 

"This comes after two days of extensive consultation with myself as the accounting officer, accompanied by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Justice, Ms. Glydis Pickering. The team went under the directives of the Minister of Education to clearly listen but also explain against the petition that was handed over for a Khoekhoegowab-speaking person to be appointed at the school," explained MoEAC Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, continuing that they held extensive meetings with "the school board, including the chairperson of the regional council, and explicitly explained our policies, our procedures and the laws the legal framework within which recruitment and the right of any person to be equal before the law, in this country. All these have been explicitly explained, and yet the education of our children is being politicised. This is unacceptable. The regional director arrived at the scene, and so did the Namibian police. It is our wish that this matter gets amicably resolved." 

The LPM has since distanced itself from locking the school gates, saying the protest was organised by a parent community group and not the LPM. 

LPM National Spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa said that the parent community group followed the democratic procedures to express a concern they have as a community and that it is important to allow citizens to participate in their democratic rights.