Niël Terblanché
Residents of the Zambezi region celebrated the official handover of two newly constructed facilities at schools in Liselo and Masokotwani settlements.
The initiative to enhance infrastructure for education, facilitated by the Chinese government, is part of a broader effort to improve educational infrastructure in rural areas, providing resources that offer long-term benefits for students, teachers, and the surrounding communities.
During the handover ceremony, the Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Ester Anna Nghipondoka, pointed to the transformative potential of the newly constructed facilities.
She said that the donated infrastructure which includes dormitories for 336 students at each school, multi-purpose halls, classrooms, laboratories, and sports facilities will address critical challenges facing rural education in Namibia, including accessibility, retention, and a quality learning environment.
The minister added that the dormitories and other amenities would significantly reduce travel distances for students, providing a stable environment that enhances focus on academic and extracurricular pursuits.
“This project signifies the continuation of a close partnership between China and Namibia, which has seen China’s commitment to Namibia’s socio-economic development grow consistently over the years,” she said.
At the start of this week, the minister also received newly constructed infrastructure at two schools in the Kavango West region.
“Initiatives such as these are vital for achieving the goals set out in Namibia’s Accelerated Infrastructure Development Plan (AIDeP) and the National Conference on Education Implementation Plan,” she said.
Nghipondoka added that the ministry’s goal is to address key issues, including the high learner-to-teacher ratio, and the need for information technology and adequate sanitation facilities.
“This collaboration with China aligns well with Namibia’s strategy, as the new facilities are equipped to provide quality, inclusive education for students in rural communities, which in turn, supports Namibia’s long-term vision of fostering a skilled and competitive workforce,” she said.
Nghipondoka urged the students of the Liselo and Masokotwani Combined Schools to embrace this new opportunity, emphasizing that their academic achievements would contribute to a prosperous Namibia.
She also called on other international partners to follow China’s example, stressing that education is a collective responsibility that requires contributions from all sectors of society.
The Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping expressed pride in the project while reiterating his country’s role as a trusted partner in Namibia’s development efforts.
The ambassador praised the collaborative spirit that guided the project and reaffirmed China’s commitment to furthering Namibia’s educational development.
Zhao also linked this project to China’s larger commitment to Africa under initiatives such as the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, announced by President Xi Jinping in 2023.
“As part of this plan, China has committed to offering 60,000 training opportunities across Africa, focusing on women and youth, and establishing engineering academies and vocational education workshops,” he said.
The construction of new infrastructure at the Liselo and Masokotwani Combined Schools is part of a larger scheme initiated in 2022, under which China is supporting the development of four schools in Namibia’s rural areas.
This addition brings the total number of China-aided schools in Namibia to nine since diplomatic ties were established in 1990.
The new schools in the Kavango West and Zambezi regions are a demonstration of the value both countries place on South-South cooperation and the principle of mutual advancement.
Zhao said that, aside from the educational impact, this project also bolstered the local economy, creating 400 jobs for Namibians during its construction.
He said that Chinese construction teams collaborated closely with Namibian workers, marking another example of the countries’ deepening bilateral ties.
