Jaenique Swartz
The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) recently hosted the Day of Education celebration at Windhoek High School in the capital.
Deputy Minister of MoEAC, Faustina Caley, reflected on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Learning for lasting peace”.
It underscores the fact that if learning is placed at the centre of “our commitment to peace, it can empower learners with the necessary knowledge, competence and attitudes to become agents of peace in their immediate communities”.
The celebration was a platform to engage in meaningful discussions about the priorities and challenges faced in implementing education for peace, especially in the context of increased global crises and conflicts.
“We find ourselves in a world grappling with an uncertain surge of conflicts, intolerance and discrimination. Hate speech, in particular, poses a grave threat to personal well-being, incites violence and undermines the principles of inclusion, diversity and human rights,” stated Caley.
She noted the commitment to peace must go beyond conventional security measures, and also reflected on the urgency to build a foundation grounded in inclusive governance dialogue, solidarity, mutual understanding, gender equality and the realisation of human rights.
The MoEAC’s deputy executive director Edda Bohn echoed similar sentiments, and shed light on the ministry’s role in prioritising accessible education and opportunities for the Namibian child to advance and propel themselves to higher heights.
“A well-resourced and transformed education system serves as a powerful long-term tool for building and sustaining peace. It ensures that learners, regardless of background, have access to quality education, and that learning continues even in times of crises,” she added.
Moreover, Bohn reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to mobilise member states and partners to prioritise education, delivering on their commitments outlined in the Transformative Education for Sustainable Development (TES) plan and the 2030 agenda.
The event commemorated a debate and motion under the celebratory theme, “Learning for lasting peace” between Eldorado Secondary School and Hage Geingob Secondary School, where the former scored the win for their well-weighted arguments.
Willemina Hamukwaya, from the winning school, expressed immense gratitude for the win. “It was a nice experience because we got to engage on matters that are really pressing and fundamental to the Namibian child to engage in,” she said.
Fellow pupil at Eldorado Secondary School, Junias Iipinge, delighted himself with their winning, highlighting that he learnt a lot from how his fellow peers think and rationalise the cases presented. “I gained a better understanding of how specific motions are supposed to be tackled, and this greatly helped my critical thinking skills.”
He moreover emphasised the importance of debate with regards to educating the masses on popular world issues, and how to engage in educational conversations to navigate and solve these pressing issues. Although the Hage Geingob Secondary School did not acquire the crown, they still got to celebrate the success of Tangeni Hatutale being crowned the best speaker at the debate.
The grade 12 learners furthermore shared that the event was more than just a debate on comprehensive learning, but rather an engagement on the way forward to enhance education systems. “The debate allowed us to see a lot of loopholes in the existing school system, with certain curriculums that are not properly administered. It also allowed us to find solutions to other issues which we have in our education system as this not only impacts the schools, but also the individual learners,” Hatutale emphasised. Caley then encouraged the audience to take the Day of Education celebration as a catalyst for change. “Let us commit ourselves to building a world where education is a right, not a privilege; a world where every individual has the opportunity to unlock their full potential. Together, we can create a legacy of learning, empowerment, progress and lasting peace,” the deputy minister expressed.
-jaeniqueswartz@icloud.com