The Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp said the ministry is aware of the lack of principals and heads of department (HoDs) in the Kunene Region. In an interview with NAMPA on Tuesday, Steenkamp said principals and HoDs will be appointed by the Public Service Commission’s Teaching Services Committee during the course of the year. She said principals will be appointed as soon as the commission has sat and depending on how fast the region submits the request for the appointing of principals and HoDs. “The committee sits twice every month for the appointment of teaching staff. Another thing about vacant teaching positions is that there are more applications of qualified teachers than those of unqualified applicants for the positions and in such cases, preference is given to qualified teachers. Some unqualified teachers from the region also complained about this issue,” Steenkamp said. The ministry, she noted, also received letters of complaint regarding the alleged unfair recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in the region. Principal and HoD posts have been vacant at numerous schools in the region for about two years and have been filled temporarily by staff members. The executive director encouraged regional educational leaders to ensure that they make submissions for the urgent appointment of principals and HoDs. It will fast-track the process of appointing suitable candidates, she said. Meanwhile, Steenkamp also urged the concerned group who complained of alleged unfair recruitments to be patient as the ministry has received the complaints and is looking into the matter.