Vision school aims at quality education

OLAVI HAIKERATHE Rukonga Vision School, which opened its doors for learners for the first time earlier this year and is the first of its kind in Namibia, is situated some 200 kilometres east of Rundu in the Mukwe constituency.

The school is regarded as the ‘torch-bearer of excellence’, and was set up by the Ministry of Education for gifted and brilliant pupils from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those in rural areas who have shown great potential to develop and succeed in life.

The school currently accommodates 240 Grade 8 and Grade 11 pupils.

In his keynote address during the opening President Hifikepunye Pohamba said the location of the school in a rural area is aimed at providing promising young people with increased opportunities to access quality education.

“The establishment of the Vision School is part of the government’s broader strategy to work towards ensuring that Namibian children receive quality education,” said the President.

Pohamba announced that the government plans to establish six ‘vision schools’ in selected rural areas in the coming years as a way of addressing access to education, quality and equity.

The Ministry of Education has already decided to build the second vision school near Epembe in the Ohangwena Region.

In order to motivate the country’s young people to strive and do their best academically, entry to these schools will be based on excellent academic performances.

“The aim is to attract learners who demonstrate hard work and a high degree of academic aptitude, with a focus on those from rural areas and previously disadvantaged backgrounds,” Pohamba stated.

He called on parents, guardians and the community to take active interest in education, and to always encourage children to do their best by taking their education seriously.

Pohamba further urged the school’s leadership to do everything in its power to achieve the noble ideals for which it was created.

The Minister of Education, David Namwandi, said that although the school is situated in the Kavango Region, it should be regarded as a national project as it is an institution of standards, character and philosophy guided by national experts.

One unique identity of the school is that secondary education is provided free to learners, and they thus do not have to pay tuition or hostel fees, nor school development funds or examination fees.

The government will also provide in all the learners’ needs, including food, textbooks and other learning materials such as stationery, uniforms, toiletries and bedding.

Construction work on what was first known as the Divundu Vision School started in 2006 at a cost of N$109 million.

The Rukonga Vision School currently has 18 teachers.

It was built with funding provided through the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme. – Nampa