Windhoek
Twenty-eight members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) last Friday completed a three-week intensive military English language course presented by the British Council and funded by the British Peace Support Team (South Africa).
In recognition of the need for effective communication in English regionally, nationally and internationally and the need to work towards ensuring human security and human rights, and supporting international peacekeeping throughout the world, it is vital that the Namibian military use English accurately.
The project provides capacity building by developing specialist curricula and materials, teacher and trainer training, promoting autonomous learning and developing testing systems to international standards.
The closing ceremony for the training was held last Friday at the University of Namibia (Unam) Khomasdal Campus in Windhoek. Participants received certificates of attendance followed by a book donation from the British Peace Support Team to the NDF Library to the value of £1000 (equivalent to N$22 000)
One of the participants, Lt Col Rachel Iilonga said: “Today we can assure you that if chance comes our way and we are deployed in any UN peacekeeping mission, we will certainly be able to communicate without much hassle.”
The event was attended by the British High Commissioner Jo Lomas, Colonel Iain Warren, British Peace Support Team, based in South Africa, and Edward Hauanga, the Deputy Director in the Directorate for Education and Civil Training at the Ministry of Defence in Namibia.
The British Council is a world leader in English language teaching and it employs over 2 000 teachers in 80 centres worldwide. It provides lessons for 300 000 learners each year. It also provides courses for teachers and English language improvement classes for adult professionals.
In Sub-Saharan Africa in 2012 it delivered direct teaching to over 15 000 students of English in 16 countries. In addition, the council has an excellent track record in teaching the military through peacekeeping English projects in Ethiopia, Rwanda, DRC, Burundi, Senegal, Djibouti, Mozambique and Namibia.