Kavango West: Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping officially unveiled classrooms and hostel blocks at two schools in the Kavango West Region on Monday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Simanya Combined School and Satotwa Senior Primary School are part of the four rural schools upgraded and expanded with a Chinese Government grant over a period of two years. This donation was received by Education Minister Ester Anna Nghipondoka.
The two schools were refurbished with additional classrooms, libraries, administration blocks, ablution facilities, beds, and hostels to provide more favorable conditions for both learners and teachers to study and teach in.
Speaking during the handover, Zhao expressed his encouragement by the benefits brought to the people in the region by the project. He believed that with the improved facilities, both schools will be able to produce more talent for Namibia’s social and economic development. The ambassador emphasized that China has always been keen to support Namibia’s
social and economic development, with education being one of the priorities in their development cooperation. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, China has donated a total of nine schools to Namibia, with a promise to do more in the future.
Nghipondoka highlighted education infrastructure as one of the ongoing challenges faced by the ministry. She stated that their mission is to provide accessible, equitable, and inclusive quality education. The minister mentioned that the Accelerated Infrastructure Development Plan (AIDP), integrated into the 2022 National Conference on Education Implementation Plan, identifies the immediate infrastructural needs to maintain low learners-to-teacher ratios, reduce travel distances, and address the needs for hostels, wash facilities, and IT infrastructure. The inauguration is a testament to this commitment.
She further emphasized that a conducive educational environment is crucial for enhancing teaching, learning, and achieving better educational outcome
s. “By providing these essential resources, we are addressing the critical issues of accessibility and retention,” noted Nghipondoka.
The minister urged the beneficiaries to take pride in the new facilities by safeguarding them against vandalism and ensuring they are well maintained for future generations.