Unlocking the magic of words

INTERNATIONAL Literacy Day was celebrated in Windhoek last week with a march to the Greenwell Matongo Community Centre in Katutura.

It coincided with Adult Learners’ Week, which is endorsed by the United Nations and celebrated in over 160 member states. The National Literacy Programme in Namibia (NLPN) was established in 1992.In 1991, about 35 per cent of Namibians above the age of 15 were illiterate.At the inception of the National Literacy Programme, the initial goal was to increase the literacy rate to 80 per cent of the population by 2000.According to the population census, this goal was achieved and indeed slightly surpassed, with a literacy rate of 81,3 per cent in 2001.The number rose to 83 per cent in 2003.Between 1992 and 2004, 443 500 students enrolled with the three stages of the NLPN, of whom 249 198 passed the final examination.At the moment, 17 000 learners are enrolled with the programme while 6 212 are enrolled with the Adult Upper Primary Education Programme.The current goal of the NLPN is to achieve 90 per cent adult literacy by 2015.The Directorate of Adult Basic Education is serious in its approach towards adult education and community development and has five programmes in place.The programmes are adult upper-primary education, adult skills development for self-employment, community learning and development centres, family literacy and Khwedam language development for the San people.Minister of Youth John Mutorwa said education is a lifelong process not limited to reading and writing, but including the acquisition of informational technology skills.The National Literacy Programme in Namibia (NLPN) was established in 1992.In 1991, about 35 per cent of Namibians above the age of 15 were illiterate.At the inception of the National Literacy Programme, the initial goal was to increase the literacy rate to 80 per cent of the population by 2000.According to the population census, this goal was achieved and indeed slightly surpassed, with a literacy rate of 81,3 per cent in 2001.The number rose to 83 per cent in 2003.Between 1992 and 2004, 443 500 students enrolled with the three stages of the NLPN, of whom 249 198 passed the final examination.At the moment, 17 000 learners are enrolled with the programme while 6 212 are enrolled with the Adult Upper Primary Education Programme.The current goal of the NLPN is to achieve 90 per cent adult literacy by 2015.The Directorate of Adult Basic Education is serious in its approach towards adult education and community development and has five programmes in place.The programmes are adult upper-primary education, adult skills development for self-employment, community learning and development centres, family literacy and Khwedam language development for the San people.Minister of Youth John Mutorwa said education is a lifelong process not limited to reading and writing, but including the acquisition of informational technology skills.