WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Education has revealed that recently dismissed teacher Petrus Ndeulita had a history of corporal punishment which contributed to his dismissal.

Ndeulita was dismissed recently following an incident in which he allegedly forced a Grade 7 learner to hold a chair over his head for an extended period. The learner eventually threw the chair away and ran to the principal’s office to report the incident.

Teachers and learners in the Oshana Region protested last Friday, demanding the immediate lifting of Ndeulita’s dismissal, claiming that it was an unfair dismissal.

The ministry’s Executive Director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp, in a statement on Tuesday clarified that this was not Ndeulita’s first offence as his personal records revealed a history of 14 reported cases of corporal punishment.

‘Ndeulita was also given a chance to state his case before his dismissal, during which he portrayed unbecoming and unruly behaviour in that he refused to acknowledge the charge sheet,’ she said.

This, sh
e said, is viewed as undermining authority, especially considering his knowledge and awareness of the fact that administering corporal punishment is a chargeable offence.

According to Steenkamp, it is a legal requirement for all teaching staff to take an oath against the use of corporal punishment upon their appointment. Ndeulita also took the oath on 02 April 2019, in accordance with the Education Act.

She indicated that in 2021, an investigation report was received by the ministry from its regional office concerning ‘unacceptable behaviour/corporal punishment’ involving Ndeulita.

Although Ndeulita cited a lack of knowledge as a mitigating factor, there is evidence on his personal file that he had signed an oath against corporal punishment on 02 April 2019 shortly after his recruitment as a teacher.

She stressed that the ministry remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and ensuring that all disciplinary processes are conducted with fairness and justice.

However, Stee
nkamp noted that should Ndeulita be of the view that he was unfairly dismissed, he has the liberty to seek further redress of the matter through any competent Court of Law.

Ndeulita was appointed as a Grade 8 teacher at Hashiyana Primary School in 2018.

Source :The Namibia News Agency