By Obrein Simasiku
WINDHOEK – The Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi yesterday received 1 200 DVDs of the film ‘Paths to Freedom’ directed by Richard Paklema. The DVDs will be distributed to various schools across the country for teaching purposes.
Namwandi said it was very painful to gain freedom through fighting and emphasized the DVD authenticates history and will instill the authenticity of the liberation struggle.
“Namibian history should come first and if not it will affect where we are going in future, but I don’t mean learners should not learn about world history,” Namwandi stated.
He added that the film will teach future generations what happened in the past so that history does not repeat itself, adding: “Born-frees and those that lived before independence should forever remain and respect our liberators.”
The production of the DVD that is over two hours in running time was funded by the Finnish Embassy, First National Bank, the Namibia Film Commission, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, National Archives of Namibia, the Carl Schlettwein Stiftung and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Paklema was not present during the handover and in his speech, which was read on his behalf by Nangula Shejavali, he said: “Paths to Freedom tells the story that involved thousands of people and tells key moments of formative moments in Namibia’s heroic history.”
The DVD comes with a facilitator guidebook, which will guide citizens, teachers and learners in school to follow the history narrated through the movie.
The facilitator guide has questions and chapters that can specifically enable teachers to teach step-by-step the historical content embedded in the educational DVD.
The film features the Founding Father Dr Sam Nujoma, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ben Amathila, Helao Shityuwete, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Lahja Iyambo, among others.
Helao Shityuwete who was present at the handover said the liberators were pioneers who went to the forefront and now that they are old it is therefore the duty of the new generation to continue where they stopped. He said that can be done by following and watching the film in order to have a glimpse of history and understand what really happened in the past.
Namwandi said the DVDs would be distributed to schools next year.