The community at Omitara Settlement is unhappy that repeated appeals to the Omaheke Regional Education Directorate to replace the principal of the Otjivero Combined School have fallen on deaf ears.

The community held a series of demonstrations last year to have the principal removed.

The parents accuse the principal of divide-and-rule tactics at the school board level, among parents and some teaching staff.

School Board Chairperson Hendrik Windstaan revealed in an interview with nbc News at Omitara in the Okorukambe Constituency that not even a single parent meeting took place to discuss the affairs of the school.

The chairperson added that the regional education directorate has been ignoring their requests. The community has threatened to close down the school by the end of January if nothing is done.

Windstaan says the school hostel is currently operating without a superintendent, and the school principal is not informing the community about the state of affairs.

"So the parents, all they want and request is that they don't want the principal, and if the principal is not removed at the end of this month, there will be a big demonstration, and I'm telling you, minister, if you're not doing anything against this principal, director of education of the Omaheke Region if you're not doing anything against this principal, we will close down the gate and we will take back our kids until you remove this teacher because this school was led by a female principal from the start and there was no problem."

Okorukambe Constituency Councillor Rocco Nguvauva says his office is aware of the matter but pleads with parents to remain calm and allow the line ministry to find an amicable solution to the problem. Nguvauva stresses that teaching and learning at the school should not be interrupted.

The Education Inspector in the Omaheke Region, Eliakim Kavari, says the removal of the school principal, if it should happen, should be done procedurally, and parents must therefore exercise patience. Kavari points out that the position of the hostel superintendent has been advertised and that the appointment is imminent.