US-funded programme donates ITC equipment to boost literacy in the Oshikoto Region
100 computer tablets were handed over to the Regional Director of Education by the US Government funded Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme, at an event held last week in the Oshikoto Region.
The tablets are earmarked for 100 students who are DREAMS participants from various schools in the region.
This donation comes at a time when the Directorate of Education, Arts, and Culture has introduced online study material for students to support independent learning, reinforce the capacity to do research, and promote critical thinking. The tablets will enable students to access virtual platforms and online content relevant to their studies.
Incomplete secondary education and poor school performance, particularly in English, science, technology, and math subjects, are some of the stumbling blocks preventing students, especially adolescent girls, and young women from accessing vocational education and training, leading to economic disparity and gender inequality. The DREAMS programme supports adolescent girls and young women who are prone to drop out of school and prone to HIV infection, to stay in school, improve school performance, and obtain their school qualifications.
Speaking at the official ceremony held at Hans Daniel Secondary School, the Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Hon Peya Mushelenga underscored the value of ensuring that young women complete their studies.
“With Namibia set to embark on multi-million-dollar projects in oil, gas, and green hydrogen, there is a need to further strengthen efforts to provide equitable, quality education to women and girls so that they too can be empowered to be at the forefront of these major developments and ultimately lead independent lives,” he remarked.
Namibia has a generalized HIV epidemic with one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Women bear a disproportionate burden of the virus among adults. DREAMS is an HIV prevention programme for girls and young women to keep them HIV-free and empower them socially and economically. DREAMS is funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Project HOPE Namibia.
Hon Minister Peya Mushelenga of the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology and Rosalia Indongo (left), Country Director of Project HOPE, handing over 100 tablets to the Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture in the Oshikoto region on Friday. The Minister is flanked by two of the beneficiaries.
