The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture has launched an initiative aimed at increasing access to high-quality, curriculum-aligned digital content for teaching and learning.
The ICT Transforming Education in Africa programme seeks to harness digital technologies for educational advancement in Namibia.
Information and Communications Technology features prominently in the 2022 National Conference on Education Project Charter of 2023-2030 as one of the 10 Levers of Change for Namibia's roadmap towards educational prosperity for all.
It's against this background that the Education Ministry sees it necessary to shift to an education system that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy to prepare learners for a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
"We acknowledge that the dynamic nature of technology necessitates continuous adaptation and innovation. If we are to fully harness the potential of ICT fully for enhanced teaching and learning, we must build upon our achievements and address the existing gaps. This project presents us with a remarkable opportunity to further our efforts in the digital transformation of education," said Minister Anna Nghipondoka.
The project aims to provide schools with sustainable and uninterrupted access to quality ICT-integrated education while ensuring that every Namibian child and teacher benefits from digital learning.
Laura McLeod-Katjirua, the Governor of the |Khomas Region, explained that "it is about equipping our teachers with the necessary skills to integrate ICT effectively into their teaching, ensuring our learners develop the digital competencies needed for the future."
Four focus areas were identified in a needs assessment that was conducted by the ministry and UNESCO.
National Project Officer at UNESCO, Fenni Namutenya, explained: "In terms of platforms, we have existing platforms in Namibia. We talk of Microsoft 365, NoteMaster, schooling, Moodle, WhatsApp, and YouTube that we can make use of to integrate ICT into teaching and learning."
UNESCO representative Eunice Smith explained further that "UNESCO is fully committed to supporting Namibia's journey towards digital transformation in education. We believe this project has the potential to significantly impact how we teach and learn, improve the quality of education, and empower learners with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century."
The project is under the UNESCO-Korean-Funds-In-Trust partnership that will run from 2024 until 2027.