ONGWEDIVA – The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joel Kaapanda has urged teachers to be exemplary and to ensure that their learners become law-abiding citizens.
The minister was speaking at the official opening of the Otamanzi Multipurpose Community Centre on Friday at the Otamanzi constituency office near Okahao. Kaapanda nored that the crime rate in the Omusati region is very high and made reference to several gruesome acts committed in the region attributing that to the excessive use of alcohol in the region.
The minister said just like the President Hifikepunye Pohamba he does not want to lead a nation of drunkards and advised parents to drink reasonably and responsibly, as well as to spend less time the cuca shops and invest more time with their children to discuss issues that will them into responsible citizens, especially because they live in a society that is abusing alcohol. He said the upbringing of children should start at home and not at school. “I am not saying that you should not drink, but drink as it is required. Children’s upbringing should start at home do not leave it up to the teachers. The teachers are there to cement what has been started by the parents,” said Kaapanda. The minister further advised parents to attend parents meetings as organised by the schools and to become active participants in their children’s education, especially those who are at institutions of higher learning.
The minister made reference to a school where learners threw their books in the toilet and strongly urged parents to be advocates of good behaviour. “Visit the children when they go to institutions of higher learning, there are learners who have never attended a single class, but claim to be students,” said the minister. According to him the Otamanzi Multipurpose Community Centre is aimed at educating the young generation and to bring information closer to the nation.
He cautioned the users of the facility to refrain from acts of vandalism and to use the equipment for their intended purpose.
The centre received an overhead projector, copy machine, scanner, printer, LCD TV among other things donated by the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology. The centre is open to any member of the public.
By Nuusita Ashipala