Nakale reaches out
Following an article published in Namibian Sun of teachers having to supply stationery for their learners, a northern businesswoman stepped up.
In response to recent media reports that teachers in the Omusati Region are using their own money to purchase teaching aids, northern businesswoman Maria Nakale donated school stationery worth more than N$50 000 that has benefitted 25 schools from the marginalised communities in the region.
According to the governor of the Omusati Region, Erginus Endjala, Nakale, who is employed by First Capital Company was moved by the plight of the teachers in an article published by Namibian Sun recently and she donated the stationery via the governor's office.
Each of the 25 schools from Okahao, Otamanzi, Onesi, Tsandi and Ruacana circuits received a hamper consisting of various items including calculators, notebooks, mathematics sets, photocopy paper and other accessories.
“I am very proud of you as educators in my region. I am aware that schools in marginalised communities are experiencing a lot of challenges and school stationery is one of them. Your schools have fewer privileges and you work in remote areas, but you are making an effort to make sure that a Namibian child has received education. Please keep it up,” Endjala said.
Endjala also thanked Nakale who was not present at the official handover for her efforts and caring heart. “I know the donation is not enough to make the whole school happy, but I am delighted by her effort to give something to a group of schools from different, needy communities. I hope that other Namibians and corporate companies will emulate her,” he said.
The governor told the beneficiaries to use the donation as an incentive to boost performance at their schools. “Some of the donated items are luxuries in your community. Let's give them to best-performing learners to encourage them to keep up the good work and create competition with others.”
School principals from schools that received the donations used the opportunity to inform Endjala that they faced a serious challenge of high absenteeism and dropouts because the schools have not benefitted from the school feeding programme since 2014.
“I am shocked and disappointed. No one from the directorate of education told me this. I always hold meetings with the director and his inspectors, but they never told me of this problem. I am going to address it as an urgent matter,” Endjala promised.
ILENI NANDJATO
According to the governor of the Omusati Region, Erginus Endjala, Nakale, who is employed by First Capital Company was moved by the plight of the teachers in an article published by Namibian Sun recently and she donated the stationery via the governor's office.
Each of the 25 schools from Okahao, Otamanzi, Onesi, Tsandi and Ruacana circuits received a hamper consisting of various items including calculators, notebooks, mathematics sets, photocopy paper and other accessories.
“I am very proud of you as educators in my region. I am aware that schools in marginalised communities are experiencing a lot of challenges and school stationery is one of them. Your schools have fewer privileges and you work in remote areas, but you are making an effort to make sure that a Namibian child has received education. Please keep it up,” Endjala said.
Endjala also thanked Nakale who was not present at the official handover for her efforts and caring heart. “I know the donation is not enough to make the whole school happy, but I am delighted by her effort to give something to a group of schools from different, needy communities. I hope that other Namibians and corporate companies will emulate her,” he said.
The governor told the beneficiaries to use the donation as an incentive to boost performance at their schools. “Some of the donated items are luxuries in your community. Let's give them to best-performing learners to encourage them to keep up the good work and create competition with others.”
School principals from schools that received the donations used the opportunity to inform Endjala that they faced a serious challenge of high absenteeism and dropouts because the schools have not benefitted from the school feeding programme since 2014.
“I am shocked and disappointed. No one from the directorate of education told me this. I always hold meetings with the director and his inspectors, but they never told me of this problem. I am going to address it as an urgent matter,” Endjala promised.
ILENI NANDJATO
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