MCA hands over new school facilities at Outjo

The Millennium Challenge Account Namibia last week handed over several newly built and renovated classroom blocks at the Jack Francis Primary School in Outjo. Kunene Regional Governor Joshua //Hoebeb received the new buildings on behalf of the Ministry of Education. He thanked MCA-Namibia for renovating the existing classrooms, and for building new facilities at what is the oldest school in the region. The Jack Francis Primary School was founded in 1948 by the Rhenish Missionary Society as a missionary school. According to //Hoebeb, the new facilities will greatly improve learning and teaching here. “That is good, because the success of our learners is the success of our government,” he said. He said future of Namibia entirely depends on the quality of education children receive, as that will equip them to lead the country in future. The learners were urged to understand what they are taught in classrooms, and parents told to support the school in all its needs. MCA-Namibia’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Sikongo Haihambo, said the five-year funding agreement between Namibia and the United States, known as the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC), had benefited 47 schools in 10 regions so far. The Jack Francis Primary School was also assisted under the Compact, which comes to an end on September 16 this year. As part of the renovations, the school’s library and biology and physical science laboratories were equipped, while a new computer laboratory was built. Haihambo said more than N$15 million was spent on renovating this school. Braille materials for visually impaired learners were also purchased. Meanwhile, Outjo Constituency Councillor Abraham Job thanked MCA-Namibia for donating two new vehicles to his Hai//om San community. The organisation donated a 24-seater Iveco bus and Toyota double-cab bakkie to the community. These vehicles will be used for tourism activities carried out by associations under the Hai //om San community. Job said a house which will serve as an office for tourism activities at Farm Nuchas in the Outjo Constituency is also being renovated by MCA Namibia. Several traditional leaders, Outjo local authority councillors and Kunene Regional Education Director Simon Tsuseb were amongst those who attended the event. OUTJO NAMPA