Zebaldt Ngaruka
OKAJOMBO – An adult education officer for Omaheke’s Epukiro constituency said the national literacy programme must be embraced by all community members and taken seriously.
Sam Tjizoo made this plea while addressing students from eight literacy centres, who gathered at Okajombo village recently to celebrate the day, aimed at bringing activities, learning, sharing experiences from centres and promoting adult learning in the constituency.
Speaking at the commemoration of the National Literacy Week, he said the community must participate in the programme, as it aims to instil skills in the people.
“This programme is for the community – and without it, it will die. The promoters must also take it seriously, and emphasise its importance to the community,” he urged.
He added that the programme is not merely meant for farm labourers but for the entire community, highlighting that the students are trained to make changes in their lives.
This year’s celebration was themed ‘Promoting Multilingual: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace’.
“The students will also be trained on small businesses that will be beneficial for them to make a living from. We are currently training them free of charge to make a dishwashing liquid, which they will sell and make a profit,” the education officer said.
This publication caught up with some participants to share their experiences.
One of them was Vejama Katundu (30), a stage student from Ohakavena Centre.
“I know many things that I did not know, and the programme is creating the spirit of togetherness amongst us,” the student said.
Another participant was Joseph Ndjavajava (33) from Okajombo village, who said he has learnt to write his name through the programme.
“I am a good Otjiherero reader now, and I now send text messages without the help of anyone. I am in a different world now, unlike in the past when I would ask for help from someone even to send text messages to my girlfriend, something that worried me,” he said.
He has worked as the village waterpoint caretaker but wants to graduate from that – thanks to what he has learnt through the adult literacy programme.
“It’s good to be educated, and I am calling fellow villagers to join this programme. I am hungry to even further my studies in technical or mechanical fields,” he said.
Memory Makono, the literacy promoter for Oruvize settlement, said her centre registered 15 students this year, and three have dropped out.
“These were students from the marginalised San community, and they found tenders to sustain themselves. I am very happy with my current crop students, as they are committed to their studies, and that motivates me. Teaching is my hobby, and giving knowledge to others is a big investment that will change their lives,” she said.
Challenges
Most literacy centres in Epukiro do not have fixed structures, and that is one of the major concerns.
“We currently work from under the tree, and that is hampering our work. If the weather is not favourable, it means no classes, and that is worrying us here,” said Makono.
Most students also shared with New Era that they need to partake in other extracurricular activities like sports.
They view sports as one of the most popular activities, since most of them are young, and want to engage with one another through sports.
In November 1992, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation General Conference approved international literacy week to allow students to raise awareness for the need to create more opportunities for adults to learn and to celebrate the efforts and achievements of the thousands of students who committed themselves to learning.
The same year, Namibia also introduced the National Literacy Programme.
-zngaruka@yahoo.com