Hertta-Maria Amutenja
A group of parents and community members are planning a nationwide boycott on 5 May 2025 in protest against the removal of Khoekhoegowab as a subject at Auas Primary School in Windhoek.
The announcement came on Tuesday during the delivery of a petition to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture.
The petition alleges that Khoekhoegowab, an indigenous language, has been sidelined at the school, in violation of the Basic Education Act and Namibia’s national language policy.
“We are asking all parents, community members and stakeholders to mobilise themselves to inform the police in your area that we are going to have a national boycott and demand answers on 5th May 2025 at regional offices and the head office,” the petition states.
Parents claim that Khoekhoegowab was removed without proper consultation and that some learners were redirected to Afrikaans.
The petition says this decision was made without informing or involving parents.
“We, the parents of Auas Primary School, are deeply concerned about the continuous removal and marginalisation of Khoekhoegowab at the school. This action is not only discriminatory but also unconstitutional and in direct violation of the Basic Education Act 3 of 2020,” the petition reads.
According to the petitioners, limited access to Khoekhoegowab has persisted for several years, but the situation worsened in 2024.
Only a small number of learners reportedly still have access to the language at the school.
“The deliberate marginalisation of our language is robbing our children of their identity, heritage, and pride. We therefore demand that the ministry investigate this matter and ensure that Khoekhoegowab is reinstated and preserved,” the petition continues.
Parents argue that the school’s decision to prioritise Afrikaans and Oshikwanyama undermines the language needs of a predominantly Damara-speaking community.
“The school cannot unilaterally decide which languages are important and which ones are not. This is a decision that must follow national policy and be inclusive,” said one parent.
This protest follows earlier allegations reported by the Windhoek Observer this month against the school’s principal, Toini Nauyoma.
A letter dated 10 April and submitted to the Minister of Education, the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the Ombudsman accused Nauyoma of cultural insensitivity, unfair recruitment practices, and administrative misconduct.
The PSC has confirmed receipt of the complaint, and the regional education director, Paulus Nghikembua, met with the complainants.
Community activist Shaun Gariseb, who authored the April complaint, claimed that during a staff meeting, Nauyoma instructed teachers not to speak to the media or to him, stating that the matter would go away.
“She is wrong. But now I understand why she has that confidence and why teachers are scared. They fear victimisation,” said Gariseb.Efforts to obtain comments from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
