MVA Fund, MTC join hands to build eight new classrooms in Omusati

Eight new classrooms were officially handed over to Shaanika Nashilongo Senior Secondary School in the Omusati region on Friday, following a N$500 000 investment by the MVA Fund in partnership with MTC's Rural Schools Project.

The total value of the new infrastructure is N$2 million. Launched in 2019, the MTC Rural Schools Project is a corporate social investment programme aimed at supporting government’s efforts to strengthen education infrastructure. The initiative focuses on constructing and refurbishing classrooms, particularly in rural areas.

MTC's Tim Ekandjo said the programme has so far delivered 61 classrooms, seven storerooms, one computer lab and an ablution facility at a total cost of N$18 million. Two more handovers are planned for the Erongo region to complete national coverage.

John Haufiku, the MVA Fund's corporate affairs manager, said the project is more than just infrastructure development. He described it as a strong statement of confidence in rural schools as drivers of national development.Haufiku said investing in rural education is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in Namibia’s future, with rural schools nurturing resilient, disciplined and innovative learners.

He emphasised that the country’s future will be shaped not only in urban centres but also in schools in small towns and villages.

MTC’s Rural Schools Project aligns well with the MVA Fund’s mandate and vision, Haufiku said.

He noted that development at scale required partnerships between responsible institutions working together with a shared purpose.

Future-proof learners

While welcoming the improved infrastructure, Haufiku said physical classrooms alone were not enough to achieve educational excellence.

He stressed the need for technological infrastructure, exposure to practical and industrial knowledge, and access to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced digital skills to ensure Namibia’s global competitiveness.

He called on other corporates, public institutions, communities and leaders to support rural schools so that they are developed to standards comparable to the best schools in the world.

Haufiku said the MVA Fund’s vision of becoming a global centre of excellence in providing a social safety net is rooted in the principle that strong systems produce strong outcomes, adding that strengthening schools ultimately strengthens the nation.

Addressing learners, he encouraged them to value education without losing connection to their roots, saying discipline learned through traditional rural activities such as farming and herding is equally important in professional careers.