The Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister says there is a need to strengthen supervision in school hostels and premises to ensure learners' safety.
Dr. Sanet Steenkamp's call follows a recent report of a teacher accused of sexually molesting boys at Grootfontein Primary School.
Speaking at the Otjozondjupa Education Conference, Dr. Steenkamp urged school boards, principals, and hostel superintendents to be vigilant and create safe environments for learners at all times.
She reiterated the ministry's drive in support of the rollout of Namibia's National Safe Schools Framework.
"And it's not the majority of the educators and teachers, but I want to make it clear also to the learners here: no teacher has the right, or no adult, to touch you inappropriately. I know what I'm talking about, ladies and gentlemen; unbecoming behaviour, sexually inclined. Please let us not complicate and ruin the life of a child not in a hostel setting, not in a community, not at home. We all avoid the topic of incest, but we must talk about it. There is therefore a need, Mr Ndafenongo, to really emphasise to our leaders that we must strengthen supervision in our hostels."
Dr. Steenkamp is also concerned about the high school dropout of 789 learners last year in the region.
"We should not assume what the external factors are, and we should be focusing on credible, accurate information when we compile our EMS data, not just fill it for the sake of filling, because that data will guide us as to what the reasons for these 789 children dropping out are. Where are these learners? They are somewhere in a household; they are somewhere in the community. Whose job is it to bring them back to school? Do we even take them back in school when they come? So this is an issue where I wish to remind the schools, the parents and the hostel authorities to please strictly implement attendance regulations under our Basic Education Act of 2020."
Steenkamp also mentioned that the ministry has decentralised teacher appointments and shortened the advertising period to less than 30 days to minimise lesson disruptions.