OLUKONDA - The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s Oshikoto director Aletta Eises has encouraged adults to go to school for their own benefit.

She made the remarks during the celebration of International Literacy Day at Olukonda on Friday.

“We are respecting adults who are part of adult literacy for their knowledge application, what they are bringing to the table, and for realising that without education, their future is doomed. Adult learners, we are applauding you for your determination and your great vision for you to advance in life by promoting skills as lifelong learning,” said Eises.

She added that when adults are studying, they are setting a good example to the young ones for them to uplift and uphold literacy in their communities.

The regional education director further said Namibia is moving towards the 4th Industrial Revolution where Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a critical tool for development.

Literacy education, she observed, would help adults to manage their businesses, do their banking, and keep up with new technologies.

“Literacy was started for reading, writing and counting purposes. But today, we are at 91% nationally as a country for literacy”, said Eises, adding that the Oshikoto literacy level currently stands at 88%. New figures are expected once the new census ends.

Adult literacy was started by Unesco about 40 years ago to be able to uphold and uplift literacy in the communities, and Namibia offers free education for adult literacy which is pro-development, and pro-economic development, she noted.

Speaking at the same event, Olukonda constituency councillor Philemon Ndjambula raised concern about the shortage of boarding schools in the area.

“We are requesting our government to build a boarding secondary school in the Olukonda constituency because we have 12 primary schools whose learners go to other constituencies for boarding school,” he added. - Nampa