Community members in Gam gathered on Friday to mark Adult Learners' Week ahead of International Literacy Day, with regional leaders calling for an end to the social stigma surrounding adult education.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director of Lifelong Learning, Libraries, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture in the Otjozondjupa Region, Katrina Shikuni, stressed that returning to the classroom as an adult is a choice to be celebrated, not hidden.

“To our adult learners, please, do not be ashamed of being an adult learner. And please, do not say I am too old to learn. You are never too old to learn, and education does not have an expiry date. Our Minister of Education, Honorable Steenkamp, during the national launch of the Adult Learners Week, reminded us that adult learners are not people who failed or who have missed the boat. She also reminded us that adult education is not an afterthought and that learning opportunities must be available throughout life. And I want that message to reach each and every household of Gam.”

Representing the constituency councillor, Likoro Masheshe, the Control Officer for Tsumkwe Settlement, urged adult learners across the constituency to view literacy as a vital tool for economic self-reliance.

“As we celebrate this important day, let us renew our commitment to adult learning and literacy. Every person who learns to read and write, acquires a new skill, starts a project, or learns how to generate an income is contributing to the development of Otjozondjupa and Namibia. Let us continue to promote literacy for our people, protect our planet, and create prosperity for our comunities and ourselves.”

Data from the 2023 Population and Housing Census puts the national adult literacy rate at 87.3%, with nearly nine out of ten adults able to read and write.

However, officials reminded the community that the remaining 12.7% are not just figures on paper—they are mothers, fathers, and neighbours who need active support to ensure no one is left behind.