Otjiwarongo Secondary becomes seventh PASCH school in Namibia
School Principal, Mrs Rina Goldbeck welcoming VIP visitors at the ceremony where Otjiwarongo Secondary received its PASCH accreditation.
Another chapter in education history was written this week when Otjiwarongo Secondary School signed an agreement with the Goethe Institut in Windhoek to become the seventh PASCH school in Namibia.
Otjiwarongo Secondary is now one of 1800 PASCH schools worldwide. In Namibia, Namib High in Swakopmund, Delta Secondary in Windhoek and DHPS are three PASCH schools under the auspices of the Central Agency for Schools Abroad in Berlin, while Martin Luther High in Okombahe, Windhoek High, Swakopmund Private School, and now also Otjiwarongo Secondary, resort under the Goethe Institut.
PASCH, derived from the German “Partnerschule” indicates an associated or coopted school where teaching the German language as subject is facilitated.
“Winning young people as partners for the future by sparking a lasting interest in our country, our society and our values through the teaching of the German language and German culture, that is the idea behind the PASCH initiative,” Chargé d’affaires of the German Embassy, Ullrich Kinne said in his welcoming remarks.
Established in 2008 by the current Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, PASCH schools are part of a worldwide programme for the development and advancement of German language education at selected schools.
“The fact that the Otjiwarongo Secondary School is one of two Namibian schools that have been given the opportunity to join PASCH this year shows how much we appreciate the efforts for supporting German as a foreign language in Otjiwarongo. I hope this agreement of cooperation manifests as a fruitful initiative and develops in the future,” said Goethe Institut Namibia Director, Daniel Stoevesandt.
One of the benefits of being a PASCH school, is the considerable investment by the German Government to improve tuition in the German classroom. Otjiwarongo Secondary School received about N$400,000 in improvements to elevate the level of German teaching.
“Otjiwarongo Secondary School will also function as a resource centre for German language teachers in the Otjozondjupa Region and enable staff from other schools to access teaching material,” said Goethe Institut Namibia Head: Language Cooperation, Corinna Burth.
“This is a very important day as we realise a huge dream of five years ago to offer teachers opportunities for skills development,” said school Principal Rina Goldbeck.
Concluding the ceremony Student Representative Council President, Daniel Eggert noted how the investment in educational infrastructure for German as a foreign language is important to provide high school graduates the opportunity to study abroad or pursue a career in the tourism industry amongst many. “This is important for all of us and in particular the mother-tongue German speakers, as it invests in the German language in Namibia,” he said.
Pictured at the official accreditation of Otjiwarongo Secondary School as a PASCH school, are from the left, Mr Ullrich Kinne, Chargé d’affaires of the German Embassy, Hon Otto Iipinge, the Otjozondjupa Governor and Mr Simon Tsuseb, the regional Education Director.
