MTC opens ECD centre at Oshakati

The MTC Onawa Early Childhood Development Centre, constructed at a cost of N$800 000 with funding from MTC, was opened Friday, featuring modern classrooms, a tuck shop to aid the children’s daily nutrition and an outdoor play area to support children’s physical development.The centre&#039;s official opening included representatives from MTC, the gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare ministry, the Development Workshop Namibia (DWN) and Oshakati Town Council, who worked together to make the centre a reality.The ECD centre will assist teachers, parents and guardians in supporting young children&#039;s first 1 000 days, creating a greater impact and addressing the needs of the communities they serve.DWN country director Jessica Brown said that children who attend ECD centres learn how to interact with others, share and develop healthy relationships. She emphasised that children who attend high-quality ECDs are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue tertiary education and have successful careers.“Research shows that high-quality early childhood education can have long-term benefits for children, such as better academic performance and reduced likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system," she said. MTC’s corporate affairs manager John Ekongo highlighted the importance of investing in early childhood development.Ekongo said the ECD centres focus on activities such as reading, writing and math.He said MTC is committed to constructing classrooms for at least two schools each year through the MTC Rural Schools project.Make use of the opportunityIn a speech delivered on his behalf, the gender ministry&#039;s acting executive director Nichlas Mbingeneeko, said the inauguration of the centre would provide essential early childhood development services to local children.Mbingeneeko applauded MTC, DWN, and the town council for collaborating and bringing the ECD centre to the Onawa community. He said government cannot do it alone and welcomes assistance from private institutions to complement their efforts towards the national development agenda.He said the centre will also serve as a hub for various activities such as educator training, parent workshops and counselling, thereby strengthening early childhood development in the area.“Additionally, the centre will provide space for community meetings and ministerial services, including birth registration outreach initiatives,” Mbingeneeko said.Since its establishment in 2019, the MTC Rural Schools project has seen the construction of 49 classrooms, benefitting residents in the Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Oshana, Hardap, ||Karas, Kavango West, Zambezi, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions.

MTC opens ECD centre at Oshakati

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-28

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MTC opens ECD centre at Oshakati

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-28

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