Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has inaugurated a boundary wall at the Festus !Gonteb Primary School, with a call on the private sector to support public schools.

The Festus !Gonteb Primary School enjoys a rich history, dating back to the 1950s.

Initially started by the Rhenish Mission, the school was first located near Swakopmund's Central Business District.

At the time, it had two teachers, Abed Angula and Festus !Gonteb.

The two are considered pioneers of education in Mondesa, as they spent their mornings and afternoons teaching learners from different language groups, namely Khoekhoegowab, Oshiwambo, and Otjiherero.

When the then colonial government decided to segregate black people, the primary school was forcefully moved from town to Mondesa township, where it officially opened its doors in 1962.

The school has since produced prominent and successful Namibians who have become lawmakers, captains of industry, media practitioners, doctors, lawyers, and engineers, among others.

They include names like John |Gaseb, Juuso Kambueshe, Christopher Maletsky, and Fluksman Samuehl.

The current school principal, Fillemon Abraham, says the school relies on donors in its effort to maintain its status of excellence.

"We have taken a significant step in ensuring that our learners can learn and grow in a secure and protected space; this was made possible with the support of Escalate Investment CC."

Escalate Investment, a fishing rights holding company sponsored N$600,000 towards the completion of the 331-meter-long wall.

The company, considered by some as a friend of education, previously spent N$3 million on developing infrastructure at various schools.

Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah commended Escalate Investment for supporting the public education sector, which she noted is receiving attention from the government presently.

"71% of the Namibian population is young people from 0 to 35, which means all the children seen here are included in that 71%, so when we are investing in them, we are taking care of that 71%, and we are serious. We are going to focus on sports and the creative industry because that is where we can mould our young people. Sports is not only good as an economic sector, but it is also to build the mind and body of a person." 

The more than 1,400 children at the Festus !Gonteb Primary School are still struggling with a shortage of specialised rooms like computer and science labs, classrooms, and a school hall.