Carmen Honey
17 March 2005
Windhoek — NAMIBIA'S major institutions of learning are combining to hold a joint conference on open and distance learning later this year.
Organised by the Namibian Open Learning Network Trust (NOLNet), this first conference of its kind is to strengthen ties between the institutions and to raise public awareness about the opportunities distance learning offers.
President Sam Nujoma formally launched the private support trust in 2002.
It includes the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol), the Polytechnic of Namibia's Centre for Lifelong Learning, the University of Namibia's Centre for External Studies, The National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), through its BETD In-service Teacher Training Programme, and both ministries of education.
The conference, which coincides with the Polytechnic's tenth anniversary, takes place from August 30 to September 1 at the Polytech.
Sir John Daniel, chief executive officer and president of the Commonwealth of Learning, will deliver the keynote address.
Speaking at the launch this week, Polytechnic Rector Tjama Tjivikua said 15 years down the line, Namibia still had "massive problems" in education.
"Our dilemma is one of a stagnated system," he said, referring to all tiers of education.
It was hoped that open and distance learning would help to make education available to all.
"I don't know what will happen to Vision 2030 if we don't," he added
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