Namibia has launched its first-ever Digital Schools Pilot project in Okahandja.
The project is in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates and the World Food Programme as the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture prepares to ramp up e-learning across the country.
The government has signed an agreement with Digital School, a United Arab Emirates organisation aiming to educate one million students worldwide by 2026.
The Digital School is the first integrated, digitally enabled school that provides digital and hybrid learning smartly and flexibly.
Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, stated that this initiative is to develop digital content aligned with the official education curriculum within the ministry.
"Technology in education is not just a tool; it is a catalyst for making learning more interactive, engaging, and effective. With technology, learners can access a wealth of information, making education both fun and impactful. I am happy to announce that digital transformation is a key focus of the 2022 National Conference on Education Implementation Plan (2023–2030). Cabinet has seen to itself to fund this project and other relevant stakeholders."
She added that the education ministry intends to roll out smart televisions to all primary schools.
This commitment, she said, underscores dedication to evolving with the times and equipping learners and teachers with the best tools for success.
During the 2023 United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Digital School and World Food Programme signed an agreement to combine digital education opportunities with school-feeding programmes to allow children in the Southern African region to learn, perform better, and broaden their educational and livelihood opportunities.
16 schools were selected to take part in the pilot project, while 120 teachers were trained for digital teaching, and 53 already graduated from the National Institute for Educational Development.
One of the objectives of the digital school is to enhance teachers' digital skills.