Many schools in the Hardap region are still faced with several challenges including a lack of classrooms, ablution facilities and proper hostels and Groendraai Primary School, near Rehoboth, is no exception
These challenges impact teaching and learning negatively.
However, some of these challenges will be a thing of the past as learners of the Groendraai school will now have a more conducive learning environment after MTC opened a block of four classrooms and a storeroom there last Wednesday.
The project is worth N$1.2 million.
Speaking at the inauguration, MTC executive Tim Ekandjo said the company’s Rural Schools Project is MTC’s corporate social investment project launched in 2019 – as part of the Friends of Education Initiative with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
The objective of the project is to assist government to improve educational infrastructure such as dilapidated schools that lack decent structures or have none, by renovating and in most cases erecting new classroom blocks mainly for schools in rural Namibia – hence the name.
Since its launch, the project has thus far built classrooms in Otjozondjupa, Kavango West,
//Kharas,
Oshana and Kunene regions.
Hardap is the latest region to benefit through the Groendraai Primary School.
Later this month, MTC will hand over classrooms at schools in Zambezi (Kahunikwa Primary School) and Ohangwena region (Onduludiya Combined School), bringing the tally to 41 classrooms constructed through the project thus far.
“We do not want to embark on this project alone. We are inviting all corporates to join us in handing over classrooms around the country. We need to nationalise this project and we can only successfully do it with more funds and more partners,” he said.
He further said MTC fully accepts the responsibility and role of corporate Namibia in restoring hope to the Namibian child, and while complementing the efforts of the Friend of Education through the line ministry, MTC welcomes collaborations in the effort of making learning a beautiful experience for every Namibian child.
Since the inception of this project, the minister of Education, Arts and Culture is on record highlighting that the ministry needs a cumulative N$1.8 billion to clear the backlog in classes. This translates to a Herculean task of constructing 5 169 classrooms across the country to accommodate both primary and secondary pupils, in remote areas.
“No longer should we accept that a Namibian child should be taught under trees and unconducive environments. It is our responsibility in whatever capacity to protect the future leaders and we can only do it if we hold hands together,” added Ekandjo.
Deputy minister of education Faustina Caley lauded MTC for answering the call to dignify education and involving people from the region.
“The education sector is faced with a multitude of challenges that the ministry cannot attend to alone.
It is the responsibility of the entire country to play its role. At this school, and around the country, we have learners being taught in unpardonable environments not conducive to learning. At this school, learners endure the heat, winds, and cold of the south. They are the leaders of this country and we can only expect better from them if we have partners like MTC come to the table to make education better for them,” said Caley.
Caley also called for active participation of parents in the lives of their children, saying teachers can do a better job when parents do their part in streamlining the future of learners.