Minister challenges allegations of favouritism at Rukonga school

Education minister Anna Nghipondoka has called on individuals alleging that top-performing Rukonga Vision School in Kavango East is admitting children of senior officials in her ministry to come forward with evidence to substantiate their claims.The allegations, which surfaced in a circulating message, suggest that some of the top-performing learners celebrated this week at a special ceremony are children of senior officials in the ministry. The message specifically claims that a senior official in the Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA) has a child at the school—a claim Nghipondoka firmly denies.“Unfounded allegations”“If a child is found to have been enrolled at Rukonga while they are not from an underprivileged family, that would constitute corruption because the school is strictly for underprivileged children,” Nghipondoka stated. She emphasized the rigorous vetting process for admissions, saying it is unlikely for well-off children to bypass these procedures.The minister clarified that admissions are handled regionally in consultation with schools, with no involvement from ministry officials in Windhoek. "If anyone is aware of a single incident of a child from a well-off family being admitted, we would be grateful for the details. But I can assure you, there’s no such thing,” she said.She dismissed specific claims in the circulating message, calling them coincidental. “For example, they are talking about a Mr. Gariseb from our ministry being related to one of the top learners. I can confirm they are not related at all,” she added. Nghipondoka reiterated that Rukonga Vision School is the only school of its kind in Namibia and remains committed to its mandate of serving children from poor backgrounds.Equity-focused missionThe school’s equity-focused mandate has come under scrutiny from critics, who assert that children of influential ministry officials are being admitted at the expense of disadvantaged learners. The allegations call for a thorough investigation to ensure compliance with the school’s policies.“Rukonga Vision School is intended to serve learners from disadvantaged families. However, children of high-ranking ministry officials, who can afford private education, have been admitted. This violates the principles of equity and fairness,” the message from concerned members of the public claimed.The message further demanded accountability, stating: “Officials found guilty of corruption or favoritism should be held accountable and removed from their positions. Examination processes must remain independent, transparent, and free from undue influence.”Policy compliance clarifiedKavango East regional education director Christine Shilima echoed the minister’s sentiments, emphasizing that the school does not admit privileged learners. Admissions are strictly based on income-related policies.“If a parent’s income wasn’t declared during admission and the issue is later reported, the child is removed from the program,” Shilima explained. “For example, a cleaner earning around N$3,000 qualifies, but children of directors, teachers, or administrative officers do not, as their incomes exceed the limit.”Shilima clarified that the policy does not apply to cleaners working for institutions like the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), where salaries are comparable to those of teachers.“To qualify, the learner must be an A-plus student, ideally a vulnerable A-plus Grade 7 learner,” she said, adding that formal complaints could trigger investigations to confirm whether learners receiving awards are indeed the children of high-ranking officials.Background and eligibilityRukonga Vision School, which provides Grades 8 to 11 and advanced subsidiary (AS) education, was established to deliver quality education to Namibia’s most disadvantaged learners. Prospective learners must achieve a minimum of 75% in mathematics, natural science, and health education, with an overall average of 65% or more in Grade 7 subjects.The school prioritizes orphans, vulnerable children, and learners from marginalised communities or low-income families. With an academic performance standard of 75% or above, Rukonga Vision School strives to uplift educationally marginalised students while maintaining strict adherence to its admission policies.

Minister challenges allegations of favouritism at Rukonga school

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Minister challenges allegations of favouritism at Rukonga school

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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