N$400m EU boost for kids

On Monday Namibia and the European Union signed a N$400 million agreement in support of early-childhood development and pre-primary education in Namibia.

Support of children in early childhood and in pre-primary classes has been found to play a crucial role in their subsequent school performance and could lower dropout rates.

“It has now become a priority, in order to reduce the high dropout rate during primary education, to increase retention in grade 1 and to improve learners'' overall academic performance,” reads a joint-statement issued at the signing on Monday.

The programme is aimed at launching a number of projects in line with the government''s goals over the next four years, and the grant will be made available in portions in line with specific aims and objectives and performance indicators both parties agreed to.

The non-refundable grant will contribute towards the improvement of children''s access to early-childhood development facilities and services by constructing strategically located centres.

The programme will also expand the number of pre-primary classes across the country and provide technical support and help improve the quality of care and teaching at the early stages of education.

Jana Hybaskova, head of the EU delegation to Namibia, said the funding of early-childhood development will have many benefits.

She said the support to the education sector is about more than education.

“It is a vital tool to target one of the most serious challenges Namibia faces, namely the high income inequality and social disparity that exists in the country.”

Global studies have found that early-childhood development increases social mobility and can close social gaps.

These development activities can assist and empower previous disadvantaged groups and lead to improved social inclusion and stability.

Moreover, children who are not exposed to early-childhood development projects or pre-primary education stand a much higher chance of dropping out of school.

Between 1992 and 2012, the net enrolment rate in primary education rose from 89% to 99.7% and a consistent increase in school access and retention was observed.

Nevertheless, research has also found that repetition rates have been showing an upward trend in recent years at the primary education levels. According to an EU briefing summary, it was found that more than 20% of enrolled learners were repeaters.

As such, the Namibian government intends to focus on early-childhood development and pre-primary education, which can lay the foundations for acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills.

“When well managed, they generate a predisposition for successful school attendance and lifelong learning,” the joint statement explains.

Ninety percent of the funds, amounting to more than N$351 million, will be spent as budget support where annual payments are made by the EU to the Namibian government, based on the achievement of a set number of mutually agreed and verifiable indicators that demonstrate progress and success of the programme.

The remaining 10%, or more than N$38 million, is earmarked for capacity development within the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.

The programme was designed in partnership between the Namibian government and the EU and it is funded under the 11th European Development Fund.



JANA-MARI SMITH