Chinese computers help Namibia school enhance education provision

On a sunny Tuesday, a beam of hope illuminates the Mariental High School in Hardap Region in the southern part of Namibia.

At a computer room of the school, student Donna Gamatham was completing a task using a desktop computer, which was part of the 10 computer sets donated by the Chinese embassy in Namibia.

For her and other learners, the donation has introduced them to a new era of studies that involved the digital mode of learning.

The donation is also set to expose learners to global development and multiculturalism.

School principal Albertus Stein said that the new computers would address the scarcity of resources the school suffered.

"Due to limited computers, learners had to share, which decelerated progress and access to information communication technologies to all at school," he said.

Namibia's Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said that the ministry faces the challenge of aging information communication technologies equipment.

Since 2015, records show that no state schools received new information communication technologies equipment, and the ministry stagnated as only 24 percent of schools have information communication technologies equipment installed, according to Hanse-Himarwa.

As the Namibian government strives to integrate information communication technologies into mainstream education programs, the Chinese embassy is harnessing information communication technologies capacity to boost education provision and improve access to inclusive education in the country.

Yang Jun, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Namibia said the donation is aimed at supporting Namibia to enhance the provision of education and advance learners' career prospects.

The new donation, brings to 20, the number of desktop computers at the school.

Mariental High School has 900 learners and 30 teachers. The Chinese embassy established ties with the school in November 2018 when Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming awarded scholarships worth 20,000 Namibian dollars ($1,390) to top performers at the school.