Frederick Philander
6 October 2008
Windhoek — "After nearly four months of the laying of the cornerstone for this building, it makes me proud to stand here to officially inaugurate this beautiful multi-purpose hall at this school."
So said the Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba on Friday when he addressed a large school audience at the Dr Frans Aupa Indongo Primary School in Katutura.
"Your dream of long time ago has turned into a reality. It is with this innovative and remarkable achievement that you have turned Babylon and in particular this school into an oasis of learning opportunities," Minister Mbumba said.
The new building will accommodate a computer centre, an arts centre and counseling facilities in order to further enhance the quality of schooling in this area.
"Namibia must produce people that are employable, industrious and knowledgeable in order to transform the country into a developed, knowledge-based society by 2030. The World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000 did not only emphasize the need to achieve education for all, but did notice the need to improve the quality of education," he said.
In the minister's opinion a quality education system must manage to provide to all children and young people a comprehensive education with an appropriate preparation for a working life, life in society and private life.
"This should be achieved without distinctions of any kind, such as those based on parents' income, colour, gender, language religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin. You have set the right trend from which others can learn, and the Ministry of Education would like to salute you for your commitment towards the children of Babylon and its surroundings," he said flatteringly.
The multi-purpose hall was financed with German taxpayers' money through organizations such as Kinderhilfe Namibia, the Building Society of Baden-Wurttemberg and the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation, the "Sternstunden".
"We in the Ministry applaud these non-governmental organizations for supporting the efforts of government in establishing a partnership with local organizations that will increase educational opportunities for Namibian children. A special thanks goes to the leadership of the school and the board for securing funds through their concerted efforts and their dedication in convincing the German friends to invest in the school," Mbumba asserted.
He expressed the hope that the school will utilize the building optimally to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of education and in so doing ensure a better life for these marginalized children.
"All children and teachers must work diligently to reap the fruits of an independent Namibia and to reward your donors with only the best results. It is only through hard work and perseverance that great things can be achieved. I am confident that the Dr Frans Aupa Indongo Primary School can become a school of excellence provided they remain focused. Your mammoth task therefore is to get people out of ignorance, poverty, disease and all other social evils. Not only do you need to impart skills and knowledge but to mould better citizens," he said.
The challenge to all education is to lay the foundation for change and at the same time to maintain the best qualities of the present. "Every new generation must learn how to improve and develop society, but at the same time be able to base these changes on the traditions and achievements already established in society. Education has to encourage the capacities of young people in a society that has to recognize all these capacities before using them. Education in some ways is a mirror of society, but at the same time a factor influencing the development of society," he concluded.
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