By Feni Hiveluah
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has launched an urgent investigation into claims of a series of alleged irregularities and administrative misconduct at Emma Hoogenhout Primary School, which is said to have resulted in the recruitment of family and friends at the institution following a leadership change in 2025.
This has emerged in a scathing petition by concerned staff at the school, which was submitted to the deputy director of education Hoster Simasiku on 10 March 2026.
At the centre of the allegations is the school principal Anna Araes, who according to the document in Confidente’s possession, has bypassed all acceptable hiring procedures in filling various vacant posts at the school.
Meanwhile, Steenkamp told Confidente that the allegations have been brought to the attention of the Khomas regional education director Paulus Nghikembua, who will launch an initial internal investigation based on the concerns raised.
The petition, seen by the Confidente, calls for an urgent investigation into what staff describe as a strained and intimidating working environment characterized by victimization and an abuse of authority.
“We, the concerned staff members of Emma Hoogenhout Primary School hereby wish to express our concerns, grievances and unhappiness at our workplace. Since the change in power in 2025, we have noticed and experienced the following burning issues, irregularities, injustice, victimisation, abuse of authority, nepotism, entitlement, financial mismanagement, random and arbitrary recruitments, no democracy, etc. at our school,” the document reads in part.
The core of the grievances lies in a string of random and arbitrary recruitments where staff members allege that the new principal has bypassed official public service recruitment procedures to hire relatives and close acquaintances.
One example cited in the document is the appointment of a temporary life skills teacher. Staff members claim that this position was not publicly advertised and that candidates were allegedly instructed to backdate their application forms to 20 February 2026, to circumvent transparency requirements. Furthermore, a relative of the principal was reportedly brought in as a “voluntary” secretary in late 2025 but has since transitioned to a full-time, a paid role that was never formally advertised.
“This temporary position was not publicly and formally advertised as per prescribed HR procedures… This practice raised our concern and suspicion… A secretary was brought in by the principal on 5 November 2025 and we were informed by the principal that she will be there for 2 days in a week on a voluntary basis, just to gain experience. This lady is also a close acquaintance of the principal, and also now full-time at school and getting paid by the school,” the petition further notes.
These hiring concerns extend to the school’s support and teaching staff as well. The appointment of a new head cleaner has been questioned because successful candidate is reportedly a direct cousin of the principal and was allegedly not part of the initial shortlisted candidates.
Staff members also pointed to the sudden arrival of a nephew of the principal and an unqualified student teacher. The nephew is said to have began occupying a Grade 4 English vacant post on the first day of the 2026 school year without any prior notification to the faculty. Similar allegations of favoritism have been leveled against the filling of three pre-Primary posts, which staff believe were never advertised.
“These circumstances raise concerns regarding possible favouritism, nepotism, and conflict of interest. In addition to this, there are many casual workers around the school premises, all of them brought by the principal without prior notification to the staff.”
Beyond hiring practices, the document details significant issues regarding the school’s finances and procurement methods.
Concerned teachers allege that volunteer cleaners, many of whom are believed to be relatives of the principal, are being paid N$250 per day, which amounts to approximately N$5,000 per month. The staff notes that these volunteer workers may earn more than the relief teachers at the school, who reportedly receive only N$150 per day.
Financial transparency is also a major point of tension, as staff report they are discouraged from asking questions about school funds and have observed instances where projects are halted midway or funds are diverted from their original budgets.
One specific allegation involves the potential alteration of a plumbing quotation, which was reportedly changed from N$7,000 to N$10,000.
“Staff members believe that this matter requires urgent investigation to determine whether procurement procedures were properly followed.”
Infrastructure and specialized learning initiatives have also been affected by these management decisions with the school reportedly accepting 52 additional pre- primary learners on the assumption that the education ministry would fund an additional classroom, yet staff have been informed that the school may now have to cover the N$500,000 construction cost itself.
Additionally, a directive to establish a learning support class has resulted in a group of only three learners being placed in the school hall, an environment the staff deems unsuitable and undignified for students requiring specialized support.
The staff describes a leadership style that is authoritarian and non-consultative, claiming that the principal, who is still serving a probationary period, has created a climate that discourages open communication and negatively affects morale.
“It is noted that the principal is currently still serving a probationary period, yet staff members have experienced management practices perceived as authoritarian, non consultative, and discouraging open communication. This leadership approach has reportedly created a strained and intimidating working environment, negatively affecting staff morale and collaboration.” Both Araes and Nghikembua were not available at the time of going to print.
