Sanlam contributes to education

Sanlam donated 32 computers valued at over N$200,000 to the accounting laboratory of the Polytechnic of Namibia. The insurance company also awarded six bursaries worth more than N$160,000 to students from the Polytechnic, University of Namibia as well as a student currently pursuing her studies in South Africa.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony, Sanlam’s CEO Tertius Stears, said that he believes the country can  achieve the objectives of Vision 2030 through shared initiatives and smart partnerships between the private and public sector.
Stears said he is convinced that the computers will contribute to the improvement of education for accounting students at the Polytechnic, as well as to skills development of the country at large.
Tjama Tjivikua, Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia said that this laboratory will not only benefit the students but also SMEs who rely on the Polytechnic students’ accounting experience for the preparation of their accounts and auditing their businesses.
“Sanlam and the Polytechnic are contributing to the development of small and medium enterprises who cannot afford the high rates of professional auditors in the industry, in turn the success of these SMEs will contribute to employment opportunities and economic growth in the country,” said Tjivikua.
Etambuya Mbuye, director of higher education at the Ministry of Education, said that it is not only up to the ministry alone to contribute to the success of the education sector.
She said joint efforts and cooperation from stakeholders in all sectors of the country is needed and that  that education should be learner centered.
Mbuye said that: “knowledge plays an important role in economical development because no country can prosper without knowledge and that these computer donations will directly contribute to skill development in the country.”
She urged the bursary recipients to utilise the equipment as they come at a great cost and that they should take care of them as if it were their own.