The Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture says a lot of schools in Namibia are still in very bad states, making it difficult for quality teaching and learning to take place.
Ester Anna Nghipondoka said this whilst receiving school facilities renovated through the Sanlam Blue Ladder Schools Project at Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School (SSS) at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region on Friday.
Sanlam Namibia, through this project introduced at the company’s 100-year anniversary celebrations in June this year, committed N.dollars 3 million towards teaching and learning improvement over a period of three years. Of this, N.dollars 1 million was committed towards renovating Haimbili Haufiku SSS facilities.
The facilities repaired here include classrooms, the computer and science lab and the school library.
Nghipondoka said due to the education needs, which the ministry alone cannot address, companies like Sanlam have come in, taking hands and assisting the education sector.
Sanlam, Nghipondoka noted, also saw the need to ensure that leadership training and capacity building were provided. The company, in partnership with the Rössing Foundation, gave training and capacity building to the school’s management, the school board and teachers.
“It is really satisfying to see big organisations such as yourselves giving back to the community in which you operate,” Nghipondoka told Sanlam chief executive officer, Tertius Stears, who handed over the renovated facilities officially.
In turn, Stears concurred with Nghipondoka by saying the education of a Namibian child is a shared and collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
“Sanlam, in conjunction with our partners, decided to embark upon this noble initiative of improving the teaching and learning environment at Haimbili Haufiku secondary school,” Stears told those present.
He pointed out that his company invested the N.dollars 1 million in Haimbili Haufiku to improve the learning and teaching environment with the ultimate aim of improving performance and quality of education at the school.
Haimbili Haufiku SSS was nationally selected due to its continuous good performance.
Stears said the school’s computer lab has been refurbished by installing computer desks and air conditioners, as well as acquiring computers to the tune of N.dollars 200 000, while book shelves have been installed in the library and some new books provided.
Eenhana Vocational Training Centre, which was the project contractor, donated chairs and desks to the school during the handover of renovated facilities.