Rudolf Gaiseb 

The Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture ministry’s decision to shut down literacy centres in some regions has resulted in growing concerns as literacy rates plummet and joblessness remains.

Late last year, the education ministry decided to close 221 literacy centres across various regions of the country after conducting a study that uncovered that millions of dollars were wasted on ineffective literacy centres.

The comprehensive study conducted across all 14 regions resulted in the closure of literacy centres in Kavango West, Kunene, Kavango East, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Zambezi. 

“We found that many centres were not serving their intended purpose and were essentially draining government resources,” Sanet Steenkamp, who was education executive director at the time but now education minister, said.

The expectation was that this closure would save approximately N$6.8 million over a 10-month period by reducing the number of promoters receiving payment. 

Last Tuesday, however, Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo said this “so-called” saving comes at the devastating cost of communities, livelihoods, and the future of marginalised groups. New Era reported when chiefs in the Kunene region raised the alarm, pointing out that the investigation behind these closures was flawed and incomplete.

“The operation is dismissive of the lived realities of rural people, particularly the Ovahimba, who already face historic barriers to literacy,” the MP highlighted.

Inhabited by marginalised groups, 35 centres were closed in this region, and Mbinge-Tjeundo asked Steenkamp, about measures the Ministry has put in place to prevent further exclusion from literacy opportunities.

Mbinge-Tjeundo said the aim should have been to strengthen education, not the government merely balancing its books on the backs of the poor, leaving dismissed literacy promoters homeless and entire communities without access to learning opportunities.

Steenkamp had previously said that despite the shutdown of these centres, 947 active literacy centres will remain nationwide. –rrgaiseb@gmail.com