Telecom Namibia recently donated N$50,000 to the Romanus Kamunoko Secondary School in Rundu for use to buy some basic necessities for the school.
CEO Theo Klein handed over the donation on Friday at the school’s annual awards ceremony that showcases the achievements made during the second semesters of the academic year by earners. The Telecom chief was a guest of honour at the event which was attended by Regional Director of Education Fanuel Kapapero, Rundu Urban Councillor Vicki Kauma, CEO of DBN & School Patron Martin Inkumbi, parents, school board members, teachers, institutional workers and learners.
With Telecom Namibia’s N$50,000 donation, Klein said the school will be able to paint its newly built school hall or use it to buy some necessities, such as netball and soccer equipment or teaching aides.
“We are thankful for Telecom Namibia’s commitment to contributing to learning in general and supporting our school in particular,” said Rafael Hamunyera, principal of Romanus Kamunoko Secondary School. “With this generous donation, we will be able to have a few things that will positively impact the state of affairs at this school.”
Klein gave a talk about “academic achievements as a stepping stone to entrepreneurship and learning as a lifelong experience on our journey throughout.”
He stressed the need to learn new things at school, home and at work, in order to function effectively day-to-day amidst a rapidly changing world.
“Whether it be learning to use a new phone, a new app, or a new process at work, building skills is a constant in an ever-changing world. In other words, we need to skill up and the need to adapt to a new economy and a changing world around us,” he said.
Even for those who want to start their own businesses in the future, Klein counselled there is no short cut to success. He said to be successful as an entrepreneur requires continuous learning, “equipping oneself for the never-ending demands and challenges of enterprise building”.
He said school can be a foundation as can increase a person skills and opportunities, making entrepreneurial success more likely when he or she has finished. “I reject the common idea that school is a waste of time for potential entrepreneurs. There are good reasons why many entrepreneurs would benefit from education, and the choice depends on your situation. Hence, a major factor in becoming an entrepreneur is having a college degree,” he added.
The Telecom CEO said parents at home must raise their children to encourage them to be curious, and to expose them to important ideas in science and math, while teachers must work every day to inspire learners to challenge themselves and push beyond the core skills of any classroom.
“The influence of a parent is essential, and getting a child to be interested in the act of discovery is one of the great gifts you can give a young person,” he said.
Pointing to teachers, he said: “Innovation starts here; we should do everything we can to identify these types of learners early in life, and give them an outlet, so they can begin their process of discovery earlier.” /END/