Josephina Mwashindange
The Ohlthaver & List Group recently donated an early development childhood centre at Oshinamumwe Combined School in Omuthiya.
The centre, constructed at a cost of N$800 000, was handed over by O&L executive chairperson Sven Thieme and consists of two fully furnished classrooms, an office and is fenced off.
Oshinamumwe Combined School has about 790 learners from pre-primary to grade 11, with 27 teachers and five support staff.
Since 2015, the school provided a classroom to be temporarily used as a kindergarten. It was against this background that the school approached donors for funding for the construction of a separate kindergarten classroom.
The school received a positive response from O&L, which provided funds to construct the centre.
In his address, Thieme stated that education is the most important tool and is fundamental to driving positive change and growth, as well as developing the leaders, innovators and creators the world needs.
“The early childhood development is the most critical and important aspect of life, laying the foundation in this critical phase. Enhancing the early years of our children’s lives is the best investment we can make as a society in ensuring their future success,” said Thieme, adding that education is key to eradicating poverty.
Echoing her sentiments, the Oshikoto education director Aletta Eises added that the region prides itself in delivering good education, which can be seen in the final year results. “If we are not investing properly in the learners, we will sit in the broken country full of evils,” Eises,” she said.
Eises thanked O&L, adding that they did not invest in vain, as the region is known for its academic excellence.
Oshikoto is one of the northern regions that have been performing exceptionally well for the past eleven years and is ranked fourth in the national examinations.
Patron of Oshinamumwe Klaus Schade urged the learners to acknowledge the contribution from all the involved parties and to take good care of the facility. “It is a dream that has materialised because of the commitment and hard work of the teams involved,” Schade noted.