Official opening of the Iihenda JSS Computer laboratory

The official opening of the Iihenda Junior Secondary School computer laboratory on Sarturday 24 April 2004 by Ms Sanet Cloete Senior School Counsellor on behalf of the Regional Director Mrs. Dutte Shinyemba. Ms Sanet Cloete represents the gratitude towards Schoolnet Namibia for their generosity and also towards the school management, teachers and learners for the initiative taken to secure a donation of this kind

We have travelled to Iihenda JSS to join the school in celebration and to express our gratitude and happiness for this gracious and kind gesture of goodwill shown by Schoolnet Namibia towards education in our country. Our president and father of the nation, Dr. Sam Nujoma, has always been emphasizing the point that education is a joint venture in which all stakeholders such as parents, business communities, and government NGO’s and donor agencies have a role to play.

The Ministry of Basic Education Sport and Culture on its part, will continue to implement its long-term objectives of Access, Quality, Equity, Efficiency, Life-long learning and democracy. In order to fulfil these, we will need all the help we can get. To get this far in the reform process meant that policy makers and educators must have and use vision as a key to forging an education to match the needs and opportunities of this new century.

The primary commitment of education should be vision where every learner or citizen enters the world with:
A proud vision of self as a powerful life long leaner
A vibrant vision of a worthwhile life ahead.
An optimistic vision of a society to be proud of, and

The skills and ethics needed to follow these vision.
Schools today face ever-increasing demands in their attempts to ensure that learners are well equipped to enter the workforce and navigate a complex world. The value of technology in education can be seen daily in the impact it has in other realms of the life. It is true that technology indeed has a transformative impact on many if not all aspects of society; in workplace needs, job descriptions, in the nature of the higher-paying jobs and gaining new information almost instantly. We certainly cannot avoid recognizing that all citizens and our learners need to understand technology in a more operational way and that this need is not truly met.

Together with all the barriers to acquire the technology, like the costs involved, most rural schools do not have the necessary infrastructure (like electricity) to facilitate these. As we move towards digital Government, the increased level of knowledge needed, only reinforce the importance of computer literacy. This comes down to the fact that all contributing partners in education have the responsibility of ensuring that learners develop the competencies required bysociety and the job market.

By providing access to new media technology, as Schoolnet Namibia did, educators, parents and local communities can partner as a means of enhancing student learning and provide teachers and learners with access to human and archival resources outside the confines of schools and classrooms.

Director of Ceremony, with this technological foundation that has been laid by Schoolnet Namibia, we are certainly embarking on a road to real exposure and motivation to reach our full potential. The mere presence of the computers will not guarantee performance and productivity at school. I urge teachers and learners not take then for granted, but rather these computers should spur us to be more creative, curious and inspire us all to improve our academic performances. You are encouraged to use these computers not only for typing purposes, but also for research purposes to supplement your existing and subject knowledge. Use these computers to turn your individual potential into a potent reality. You will be more encouraged and stimulated as you discover the world of information and knowledge at the press of a button.

In conclusion,
Through this donation and service provision by Schoolnet Namibia, we hope that the learning and teaching process at Iihenda JS School will now by all means try to master the challenge of empowering all learners to be the best they can be, feel the joys of creating and using knowledge and ignore the voices that limit their potential. Once again, to the Director of Schoolnet Namibia and staff members present, on behalf of the Oshana Region, tangi unene komaano ocomputa!!

By: Sanet Cloete, Senior School Counsellor, Oshana Region