SWAKOPMUND: Minister of Education Abraham Iyambo says adult education plays a crucial role in the education sector and in building Namibia’s vision of a “fairer and just” country for everyone.

Iyambo said this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Director of Education in the Erongo Region Mark Jacobs at the launch of the Adult Learners’ Week here on Tuesday.

He explained that the week raises awareness of the need for the creation of more opportunities for adults to learn.

The launch of the 20th Adult Learners’ Week attracted about 300 adult learners from towns in the Erongo Region. The week is celebrated from 01 to 08 September every year, and Namibia forms part of more than 160 countries world-wide celebrating adult education and literacy.

The Education Minister stated that Namibia is “hungry” for skills and said for the country to make its future growth more sustainable and vibrant, human capital needs to be maximised in order to meet the workforce needs.

“The challenge is not only to expand education opportunities to the present generation, but also to expand such opportunities to millions of adults who missed out,” he said.

Iyambo also argued that by providing access to education to those who need it, more inclusive societies will be created, and added that adult illiteracy is a challenge that cannot be tackled by Government alone.

“I hope that those present will take advantage of the momentum created by this programme and reflect on what still needs to be done,” he added.

The minister also urged adults in need of help with their literacy levels to join programmes on adult literacy in order to improve their qualifications.

“Namibia is a learning nation and no one will be left behind,” he noted.