NAMIBIA: Investigation into 'sex for marks' claims

Officials at the University of Namibia have launched an investigation after students told Deputy Minister of Education David Namwandi of lecturers awarding marks to students in exchange for sex. There have also been reports of some lecturers accepting payment from students to write their assignments for them.

The allegations have sparked a national uproar, with a furious Namwandi threatening to call in the Anti-corruption Commission.

In a statement made available to University World News, Edwin Tijiramba, the university's director of communications and marketing, said investigations into the claims had started.

"These are very serious allegations that cannot be taken lightly, more so because of their negative implication for the reputation of the university," Tjiramba said in the statement.

He said all university employees, including lecturers, had individually undertaken in their contracts not to do anything that could bring the name of the institution into disrepute.

"It is in light of this that we are totally dismayed by these reports that suggest that some university employees are in breach of their contracts with us. The university expects all its employees to maintain professional integrity in the discharge of their duties," said Tjiramba.

The university, he said, had a clear policy on sexual harassment and had provided explicit channels through which aggrieved parties could seek redress.

Tjiramba conceded it was possible that in a population as big as that of the University of Namibia, there could be "a few bad apples" that could tarnish the name of the institution and the reputation of its students and employees.

He said: "A primary objective of the investigation process already put in place is to identify and root out individuals who might be conducting themselves so carelessly as to bring the name of our university into disrepute.

"The university's policy and regulations will be applied to the letter for those found guilty of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct."

The University of Namibia has grown over the past two decades into a fully fledged institution of higher learning, with a student population of nearly 16,000 and about 1,000 lecturers in all its constituent campuses located in different parts of the country.

"The university employs solidly educated lecturers with proven capabilities in teaching and research. It also admits students on merit from all over the world," Tjiramba said.