Allexer Namundjembo
Oshigambo High School suspended 17 AS-level students for their participation in an illegal religious devotional meeting.
The gathering reportedly included preaching without permission and claims of supernatural encounters, leading to significant controversy.
Among the suspended students is Jason Mutumbulwa, whose guardian, social activist Johannes Johannes, has challenged the school’s decision, calling the school’s decision rushed and unjust.
In a letter to the Oshikoto Regional Education Director, Aletha Eises, Johannes requested the reinstatement of the learners, asserting that the suspensions were motivated by personal vendettas.
Principal Pinehas Ekongo, however, offered a different account, stating that CCTV footage showed Mutumbulwa and four other male students entering the girls’ study room at one in the morning.
They were later joined by 12 female students for a prayer session that reportedly lasted five hours.
According to Ekongo, the students claimed that “Angel Gabriel” appeared during their meeting, identifying so-called witches among the Grade 12s.
“This is not Mutumbulwa’s first infraction. He has been suspended twice before for similar misconduct. The recent incident was serious enough to warrant intervention from the Ministry of Education’s Head Office,” Ekongo said.
Ekongo added that attempts to address Mutumbulwa’s behaviour had been made, including counselling sessions led by the Director of Examinations and her team.
“Unfortunately, these efforts were ignored,” Ekongo said.
The school board clarified that the students were not expelled but suspended, requiring them to complete their exams outside the hostel.
They challenged Johannes to provide evidence of the alleged expulsions.
“The accusations of unfair targeting, bias, and alleged expulsions are nothing more than an attempt to shift the blame,” Ekongo said.
