OTJIWARONGO: Adult Learners’ Week officially kicked off in the Otjozondjupa Region with a street procession and the handing-over of the symbolic Adult Education Torch here on Wednesday.

The Otjozondjupa Regional Education Directorate led the march through Hage Geingob Street under the theme “Celebrating 20 Years of Quality Adult Learning in Namibia”.

This year’s Adult Learners’ Week was launched in the Omaheke Region on Monday, and included the official handover of the Adult Education Torch, which is now in the Otjozondjupa Region.

The lit torch was carried by lifelong learning promoter Martin Hanaseb throughout the street march, who then handed it over to Otjozondjupa Regional Education Director Faustina Caley.

Caley in turn handed the torch over to Otjozondjupa Chief Regional Officer Jeaneth Kuhanga, who then handed it over to Otjozondjupa Regional Governor Rapama Kamehozu.

In his keynote address, Kamehozu applauded Minister of Education Dr Abraham Iyambo and his team for the commitment shown in shaping the country’s education system.

“It has indeed been a milestone of two decades of commitment to establish the National Literacy Programme in Namibia NLPN). It is my distinct honour to let the Adult Education Torch burn in the Otjozondjupa Region,” he stated.

The governor also urged Otjozondjupa community members to take part and enrol for literacy classes as, he said, no one is too old to learn.

Several adult education promoters here who started the NLPN in 1992 were awarded with certificates of appreciation on Wednesday.

The torch will now proceed to Opuwo in the Kunene Region, where the main Adult Learners’ Week celebration will take place on Saturday, which is also International Literacy Day.