Aletta Shikololo

The Mandume Primary School, previously known as Owambo Gemeenskap Skool (Owambo Community School) in Windhoek, turned 60 years this week.

Located in the heart of Katutura’s, Wambo location, it was officially inaugurated in 1962, with eight classrooms, one office, one storeroom and a toilet block. It housed 150 learners and seven teachers, a number that grew steadily over the years to 950 learners and 22 teachers currently.

The school is currently one of the well-performing government primary schools in Windhoek.

The 60-year anniversary was celebrated at the school and the event was a chance for a reunion for former learners and teachers.

Speaking at the ceremony, former learner Hilifa Mbako, who currently serves as the president of the Chamber of Mines in Namibia, said over the years, the school has been moulding potential leaders by polishing the talents of children that would otherwise have no other line of support in bettering their school performance.

“In doing so, the school is significantly contributing to the future development of not only the Khomas region but also Namibia as a developing country,” he said.

Mbako further encouraged teachers and learners to embrace opportunities and challenges brought upon by science and technology to help keep up and compete with the fast-changing world.

“The world is rapidly changing and the impact of trade and globalisation will force us to change. The new challenges and opportunities that this brings means that we must make some serious change to the new way of doing things such as in schools, work, studies,” he added.

The school was named after King Mandume Ndemufayo, who was a legendary king of the Uukwanyama Kingdom.

He is renowned for his uncompromising attitude toward foreign imperial forces of the Portuguese in Angola and Germans in Namibia and later the British and South Africans in the then Suid-Wes Afrika.

According to the history of the school, Mandume Primary School was opened at a time when segregation was rife and the divide and rule concept was in operation.

The school principal Robert Dishena said the school has a lack of transportation for learners. “We are in dire need of a school bus and that will enable easy mobility of learners,” he said. Therefore, the school will be hosting a gala dinner soon where they will raise funds for the bus.

- ashikololo@nepc.com.na