||Kharas Regional Council's acting Chief Regional Officer, Benedictus Diergaardt, is concerned over alleged absenteeism among some teachers from Keetmanshoop's Kronlein Primary School.
 
Addressing the occasion that signaled the school's jubilee celebrations at the weekend, Diergaardt said concerned parents inundate his office with complaints over teacher absenteeism at the said school.

"The absenteeism of teachers at this school is worrying, and most of the time it can be attributed to alcohol abuse. Parents are concerned and are reporting this to our offices. Activities such as this are negatively affecting the quality of teaching, and learners will also be negatively affected. Other issues are the lack of commitment and loyalty of some of our teachers; some of them are not team players, do not participate in events that the school is planning, do not participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, and most of the time have a negative attitude and do not even appreciate this significant milestone of the school."

The CRO, who is also a former board member of that school, appealed to the principal and the board members to monitor the teachers' absences and take disciplinary action if need be.

When approached for comment on the teachers' absences, the school's principal, Metumo Aupokolo, had this to say: "When it comes to absenteeism, we have to look at it in two ways, taking into account that these are all public servants and they are also entitled to take leave. But it's true the absenteeism is very, very high, and then what we do is we always try to talk to teachers; we have procedures in place."

Aupokolo also defended his teaching staff, saying they fully participate in the school's extracurricular activities.