Most of the governors of the German Odenwaldschule boarding school, which is no religious affiliation, resigned over the weekend following allegations that teachers sexually abused pupils between 1966 and 1991. The principal has promised a full investigation.

Most of the members of the governing body of the Odenwald School in Germany resigned over the weekend following revelations that at least 33 pupils were abused by eight teachers at the elite boarding school between 1966 and 1991.

The school near the town of Heppenheim in the western state of Hesse is not run by a Catholic organization. The allegations first became public three weeks ago at the same time as sexual abuse cases came to light at several Catholic high schools around the country.

Five of seven members of Odenwald's governing board stepped down on Saturday, leaving only the principal, Margarita Kaufmann, and the school's manager, Meto Salijevic, to run the school's affairs until a new board is elected on May 29. "The public pressure was too great," said , Sabine Richter-Ellermannthe chairwoman of the board.

The school has said 33 pupils were subjected to abuse and that eight former teachers have been accused, including Gerold Becker, who was principal at the school from 1972 until 1985. It has so far declined to confirm information gathered by Spiegel that 40 pupils were abused by 10 teachers. "We are still in the process of investigation," said Salijevic.