Category: Information

WINDHOEK: The Japanese government has invested in the enhancement of academic exchange between Namibia and Japan as one of its mid-long-term drivers for strengthening bilateral relations.

Speaking at a celebratory ceremony of the 26 Namibian beneficiaries of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) here Wednesday, Japan Ambassador to Namibia, Hisao Nishimaki said the scholarship is a dedication and commitment to the education sector of Namibia aimed at unlocking the different development sector and potential that is locked within Namibia.

Nishimaki explained that MEXT is a fully funded Japanese government scholarship which provides research programmes and teacher training for international students including Namibian students who wish to study at Japanese universities.

He noted that the scholarship has mostly funded students for their PhD studies in key development areas such as agriculture science, applied chemistry and chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mar
ine resources, energy and mathematics education, amongst others.

‘These areas are found to be key to Namibia’s development agenda as indicated in the Namibia Development Plans (NDPs) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) 1 and 2 as well as the Vision 2030,’ he noted.

One of the first scholarship’s beneficiaries, Pamwenafye Nanhapo, a senior lecturer on crop science at the University of Namibia (UNAM) Ogongo campus in the Omusati region currently trains students on rice production and has developed a three-hectare rice production unit producing two tonnes of rice called ‘Ogongo rice.’

Nanhapo said he wishes to assist in the rice production at the Kalimbeza rice project in Katima Mulilo, considering the drought conditions in Namibia.

At the same event, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Natalia Goagoses, said for the young Namibian government to foster development it is imperative to educate the nation, however, the government alone cannot achieve the goal within the desired time
frame, therefore strategic partnership is required to cultivate collaboration in the education sector to equip the citizens.

‘If our people are allowed to study and be empowered we will see many more individuals impacting the lives of Namibians by having already put the knowledge and skills into practice,’ she noted.

Namibia, she said, is equally affected by climate change and if the country does not receive rain anytime soon it will have an impact on the shortage of food, therefore, knowledge and skills received through the Japanese government, especially on crop production, such as rice production will assist the nation in food security.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Uukwiyoongwe Combined School located 15km east of Oshakati East on Wednesday received monetary donation from Rani Group worth N.dollars 40 000 aimed at the reconstruction of classrooms that burnt down earlier this year.

The incident of arson was reported in January this year, where a classroom, a library and a storeroom caught fire.

Officially handing over the donation on behalf Rani Group, Swapo Party Regional Coordinator, Werner Iita, said education is a shared responsibility and members of the community and business community need to meet government halfway.

According to Iita, every educated person does not go through shortcuts but takes determination, hard work and assistance, through community upliftment.

He noted that they received a letter of assistance from the school and approached three business people in the region, with Rani Group positively responding to the request.

‘The company requested the school to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose of ensuring that the Namibian
child is assisted in his or her education,’ he said.

Iita also indicated that there are so many challenges faced by the education ministry, which is why the involvement of other stakeholders is crucial.

The school’s principal, Albertina Hamalwa, stated at the same occasion that the donation from Rani Group will enable them to rebuild their storeroom, library and one of the classes that burnt down.

The school, which has a learner population of 150 learners, offers education ranging from pre-primary to Grade 9.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Khomas Regional Council (KRC) on Monday signed a Workplan with a delegation from the Jiangsu province of China on essential priority targeted areas of the existing twinning partnership.

The delegation headed by China’s Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Wei Ping and the Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial, Ma Xin, hailed Khomas Governor Laura-McLeod Katjirua, as the founder and principal orchestrator of Khomas region and Jiangsu province partnership which has culminated in the signing of the work plan.

In June 2015 the KRC and Jiangsu Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which later translated into another agreement signed between the KRC and the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress on 20 October 2023, leading up to the monumental signing of the Work plan between the twin cities on this day.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, KRC Chairperson Shaalukeni Moonde said ‘The signing of the Workplan is consequent to recognizing the tangible impact of the existing cooperation to the t
wo nations and institutions, based on equality and mutual benefits, to promote two-way exchange.’

As per the signed agreement, the Workplan acknowledges the extreme need to accelerate progress in friendly people-to-people contacts and cooperation, in the fields of science, technology, education, culture, sports, health, trade and investment, agriculture, investment, environment protection, tourism and human resources.

In her address, McLeod-Katjirua acknowledged that the previously signed agreements put the singing of the work plan in motion, ‘it is these two signed agreements that gave us the legitimate authority and absolute mandate to sign this envisaged five-year work plan to make our twinning partnership a more active and relevant force for our present and future development challenges as partners.’

McLeod-Katjirua further called on the administrators of the Work plan to keep the wheel moving in the right direction and the leading agents of the sectoral partnership, to make the fruits of their ties of
partnership more visible, alive and tangible to motivate or encourage others to emulate and to see the strength of this Khomas /Jiangsu partnership.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Khomas Regional Council (KRC) on Monday signed a Workplan with a delegation from the Jiangsu province of China on essential priority targeted areas of the existing twinning partnership.

The delegation headed by China’s Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Wei Ping and the Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial, Ma Xin, hailed Khomas Governor Laura-McLeod Katjirua, as the founder and principal orchestrator of Khomas region and Jiangsu province partnership which has culminated in the signing of the work plan.

In June 2015 the KRC and Jiangsu Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which later translated into another agreement signed between the KRC and the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress on 20 October 2023, leading up to the monumental signing of the Work plan between the twin cities on this day.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, KRC Chairperson Shaalukeni Moonde said ‘The signing of the Workplan is consequent to recognizing the tangible impact of the existing cooperation to the t
wo nations and institutions, based on equality and mutual benefits, to promote two-way exchange.’

As per the signed agreement, the Workplan acknowledges the extreme need to accelerate progress in friendly people-to-people contacts and cooperation, in the fields of science, technology, education, culture, sports, health, trade and investment, agriculture, investment, environment protection, tourism and human resources.

In her address, McLeod-Katjirua acknowledged that the previously signed agreements put the singing of the work plan in motion, ‘it is these two signed agreements that gave us the legitimate authority and absolute mandate to sign this envisaged five-year work plan to make our twinning partnership a more active and relevant force for our present and future development challenges as partners.’

McLeod-Katjirua further called on the administrators of the Work plan to keep the wheel moving in the right direction and the leading agents of the sectoral partnership, to make the fruits of their ties of
partnership more visible, alive and tangible to motivate or encourage others to emulate and to see the strength of this Khomas /Jiangsu partnership.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Minister of Higher Education, Training, and Innovation, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, has warned against the dissolution of the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) board, saying it will disrupt its operations.

The minister made the observation on Monday, when she addressed concerns raised by stakeholders against the constitution of the NTA board.

‘It is important to acknowledge that the dissolution of a duly appointed and functioning board would disrupt the continuity of operations at the NTA, thereby impending the delivery of essential services to stakeholders.

‘Such a course of action would be detrimental to the interests of all parties involved and would not serve the best interests of the nation,’ Kandjii-Murangi said during a media briefing.

The minister was clarifying the matter surrounding the board appointment after media reports that labour unions and employer federations have given the board 30 days to dissolve.

They claim that Kandjii-Murangi failed to incorporate their representatives in l
ine with the Vocational Education and Training Act.

Kandjii-Murangi appointed the new board in January 2023 to oversee the operations of the NTA, which is responsible for technical and vocational training. The seven-member board is chaired by Jerome Mutumba, a senior manager at the Development of Namibia, and businesswoman Ester Hoveka as deputy.

‘It is regrettable that the concerns regarding the composition of the board have only been raised at this juncture; despite the board having been in operation for over a year now, it is crucial to question the timing of these objections and to consider whether they are driven by genuine concerns for the effective functioning of the NTA, or by other motives,’ the minister said.

In order to address the issue, Kandjii-Murangi said she has asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment Creation, the unions, and employer associations to nominate individuals to be added to the current board.

Meanwhile, the minister said she was not involved in the process, adding that app
licants were shortlisted and interviewed by the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises in line with the Public Enterprises Governance Act.

‘It is recommendations that come to us that we look at and see whether or not these names that are here will be able to fit in serving the different functions of the given institution,’ the minister said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Dr Clement Abasinaab Apaak, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Builsa South, Upper East Region, has presented assorted working tools worth GHS105,730.00 to 113 youth in his constituency to undergo skills training.

The start-up kits were sets of mechanic and electrical tools, hairdressing equipment, 24 pieces of sewing machines and threads, pairs of scissors, towels, hair rollers, building levers, plastic chairs, and carpentry tools among others.

The beneficiaries would be trained in electrical works, wielding, carpentry, refrigerator repairs, masonry, hairdressing, tailoring, vehicle repairs and vulcanising.

Dr Apaak, at a ceremony at Fumbisi to present the items, said he also paid the apprenticeship fee of GHS64,330.00 for the beneficiaries, who had been assigned to various trainers in the respective fields.

‘We know that apprenticeship goes with a fee for good reason. The masters must also buy their equipment. They must spend their time training the apprentices, and by custom, they are expected to pay an
apprenticeship fee,’ he said.

‘Knowing the plight of my people, I knew that if I bought only the equipment for the potential apprentices, they would find it difficult to raise the needed money to pay for the apprenticeship. So, I decided to take that bill as well.’

Over the years, the MP had supported several youth in the constituency through formal education.

‘Last year alone, I supported 236 students in the tertiary sector. I spent GHS230, 000.00 to support them because they are the future,’ he said.

Dr Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, said: ‘In the selection of the beneficiaries, political affiliation was not considered. Just like the scholarship for the students in the tertiary sector, we don’t consider one’s political affiliation.’

‘What is important is that you are a native of Builsa South, you are in need of help, you have potential and I believe that if I give you the support, you will become somebody with higher educational degree or a trade.’

‘I am doing it
because that is what the people want.’

He assured the constituents of his continued support, especially the youth, in line with the vision of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to develop their capacities to gain with employable skills under the leadership of its Flag bearer, Mr John Dramani Mahama.

‘So, what I am doing here today is part of our history as NDC. That is why we are called social democrats. We believe in equity, justice and fairness.’

Some of the beneficiaries, after receiving their tools, commended the MP for the support and said they would work to justify the investment made in them.

Ms Juliana Aweisinaab, a hairdresser apprentice, who shared her plight with the GNA, said she travelled to Accra after Junior High School to work as a porter, popularly known as ‘Kayayo’ to enable her raise GHS2,000.00 to buy items and pay for her training as a hairdresser.

After struggling for two years, she could not raise the money and had to return home.

‘I’m grateful to the MP for the assistance. B
ut for the support I wouldn’t be able to open a shop in Fumbisi after my training.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Mary Magdalene Wompakeah, the Nabdam District Director of Education, Upper East Region, has called for the renovation of the Pelungu Kindergarten school block as the building is on the verge of collapse.

She said the building, in its current state, was not conducive for academic work, describing it as a ‘death trap that poses a threat to the lives of pupils and staff’.

She urged the government and other concerned stakeholders to initiate steps to put the school in good shape to facilitate teaching and learning. 

Madam Wompakeah made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Pelungu, where the Agency observed visible cracks from the ground floor to the block’s gables during a visit to the school.

The cracks were almost on every wall of the building with all the doors and windows destroyed.

Bright Tambon, a KG 2 pupil, told the GNA that he and his colleagues had been restricted by the teachers from playing in the classroom during their leisure period for fear of it collapsing on
them.

Madam Agnes Anamoo, the District Chief Executive, said she had instructed that the pupils be transferred to other available classrooms of the school for safety while the Assembly considered its renovation or demolishing it for a new building.

‘To be on the safer side, now the children have been moved out of the classrooms, and the Assembly is now considering adding it to the SOCO project to be renovated,’ she told the GNA.

‘Or it would be pushed down completely if renovation is not possible for a new structure because, the way it is, we don’t know what would happen in the rainy season.’

She said while the Government was committed to creating a conducive environment for pupils to learn, it could not possibly do everything, and urged non-governmental organisations with an interest in education to support.

Source: Ghana News Agency