Reading essential for effective learning
From the left are Engelhardt Uirab (Inspector of Education), Katrien Van Rooi (Senior Education Officer), Mark Jacobs (Deputy Director PQA), Hannes Uys (CEO of EBH Namibia), Lysius Uusiku (Acting Chief Education Officer at the Rössing Foundation), Elia Manga (Deputy Director, Life Long Learning), Theo Whittaker (Managing Director of Educational Concepts) and Ursula Matzopoulus (Senior Education Officer at the Rössing Foundation).
The Erongo Region Ministry of Education, in launching its ‘Erongo Reading Programme’, aims to remedy the poor levels of reading ability by exposing learners to a wider range of books and developing the skills of teachers. “This initiative reflects the philosophies at the heart of EBH Namibia, a company which places learning, skills development and training at the top of its own agenda” said EBH when it announced its support for the reading programme.
EBH Namibia is a private public partnership between the Namibian Ports Authority and EBH South Africa.
“Developing people is at the core of our corporate culture, a philosophy which filters through our organisation and out into the community.
As a business we have a responsibility and an obligation to exert a positive influence on our immediate social environment. One of the ways in which we can do this is to support educational initiatives such as the Reading Programme, and it is our honour to do so,” said Hannes Uys, Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia. The company has also recently invested in an affordable housing project by developing a piece of land procured for the sole purpose of building 220 houses for its employees.
“The government has called on the private sector to partner with the public sector and other entities to help raise the quality of life and standard of living of the Namibian people. Housing and education are two fundamental areas in which EBH can make a difference in our region,” said Uys.
“Vision 2030 is everybody’s responsibility,” said John Awaseb, Director of the Erongo Region in the Ministry of Education. “Corporate sponsorship, such as from EBH Namibia, together with the Ministry of Education will strengthen Vision 2030 and make it a reality.”
EBH Namibia said the motive behind the Reading Programme is the low levels of reading ability evident among learners in the region, and a vision of ensuring that every learner is taught to read effortlessly and fluently.
