Windhoek High becomes fifth Partner for the Future

The German government initiative “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH), was launched in 2008 by the then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to give children worldwide access to the German language and education, and to awaken an interest in and understanding of each other’s cultural diversity. Windhoek High School (WHS) this week became the fifth PASCH school in Namibia.
Welcoming the new member school, a special ceremony was held on Monday at the school.
The partnership initiative was welcomed by the Minister of Education, who sent Ms Sandra van Zyl, the Director of Higher Education to deliver his words of motivation to the learners.

The programme offers many advantages for German Foreign Language learners, such as youth camps in Germany, projects and events for the students, as well as support for teachers through seminars and financial support for teaching material or technical equipment. On the same occasion the PASCH membership of Martin Luther High School was extended. Guest of Honour, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Dr Kaiyamo encouraged the students to learn different languages and to read many books. Dr Kaiyamo speaks Oshivambo, Otjiherero, Khoekhoegowab, Afrikaans, German and English. He asked the students to learn from the past to be able to create a peaceful and bright future. Reading and knowledge is the basis for this, he said. Dr Norbert Spitz, Director of the Regional Goethe-Institut of Sub Sahara Africa came all the way from the Goethe Institut Johannesburg to sign the Memorandum of Understanding documents. He talked to the students about the role of German as a language in science and in culture. German ambassador, HE Onno Hückmann, emphasized the programme’s contribution to intercultural exchange while Bishop //Gamxamub of the Evangelical Lutheran Church said he is delighted by the opportunities and support at Martin Luther High School under the PASCH programme. German second-language students of  WHS attended the ceremony and witnessed the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Dr Norbert Spitz and Mr Hawie Engels, Principal of Windhoek High School as well as the Signing of the MoU extension by Dr Spitz and Mr Herman Auibeb, the principal of Martin Luther. The other PASCH schools are Namib High in Swakopmund, and Delta Oberschule and DHPS in Windhoek.