Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s journey towards integrating technology into education received a major boost with Huawei Technologies Namibia donating classroom digital equipment to President Nangolo Mbumba at State House worth N$900 000 on Thursday.
The equipment will benefit two high schools – Oshigambo High School in the Oshikoto region and Dr Alpho Mauno Mbamba School in the Kavango East region.
The donation aims to address the acute need for IT teaching aids in these regions, which have long struggled with limited access to technological resources.
President Nangolo Mbumba hailed the donation as a substantial step toward transforming Namibia’s education system.
Drawing from his own background as a former teacher, President Mbumba stressed the importance of equipping schools with tools to navigate the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterised by technological advancements, creativity, and innovation.
“Namibia is an integral part of the global community, and we now live in an age of rapid technological advancement. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is driven by creativity and imagination to create economic value,” he said.
He added that the integration of digital teaching aids would empower students to become technology proficient, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in a digital world.
The President recounted how discussions with Huawei Namibia about corporate social responsibility paved the way for this donation.
Mbumba said that Huawei’s focus on supporting education through technology resonated with his vision for Namibian schools.
According to the President, the two recipient schools were carefully chosen for their critical need for IT resources.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Regional Education Directors, school principals, and governing bodies to ensure that the donated equipment would be utilised effectively and maintained properly.
The equipment includes cutting-edge IT teaching aids designed to enhance the learning experience for students.
According to the President, these resources will support the introduction and expansion of digital education at the schools, laying the foundation for a broader push towards innovation in Namibia’s education sector.
He described the donation as the “first step in the right direction” and expressed hope for a sustained partnership between Huawei and the Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture, which could extend similar benefits to other schools in the future.
“Beyond the immediate impact on the two schools, the initiative aligns with Namibia’s broader aspirations for self-sufficiency and development through technology,” he said.
President Mbumba linked this donation to Namibia’s ongoing efforts to prepare its human resources for a rapidly evolving global economy.
“The empowerment of students with IT skills is a prerequisite for building a workforce capable of driving innovation and contributing to economic growth,” he said.
The President also praised Huawei Namibia for its proactive approach to corporate social responsibility and encouraged other private sector entities to follow suit.
He stressed that partnerships between the government and the private sector are crucial in addressing the country’s developmental challenges, particularly in under-resourced regions.
“This marks the beginning of a wonderful relationship between Huawei and our education sector,” he said while calling for this model to be replicated across other schools in the country.
