Capricorn aids Kunene learners

Educate
N$798k investment targets foundational literacy and numeracy.
Staff Reporter
  • 2 Weeks Ago

The Capricorn Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to improving education outcomes in Namibia by expanding its support for Meerkat Learning’s Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Programme. Building on its initial 2024 investment, which benefited 473 learners at D.F. Uirab Primary School in Khorixas, the Foundation’s support now reaches 1,200 learners and 200 teachers across the Kunene Region.


Since 2024, the Foundation has invested N$798,000 under its Education Focus Area to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy. Positive results from the past two years, combined with significant progress in 2025—where 1,000 learners across 10 schools participated—have reinforced this commitment. In 2026, the programme will scale to 15 schools across five circuits, including remote and nomadic communities, and will host the first TaRL-NAMCOL Holiday Camp for out-of-school youth.


“The Capricorn Foundation commends Meerkat Learning for its dedication to achieving solid results and making a meaningful difference in learners’ foundational education in the Kunene Region. Meerkat Learning continues to serve as a catalyst for positive change, reflecting our core values and our collective commitment to improving the quality of education for every Namibian child,” said Marlize Horn, Capricorn Foundation Executive Director.


Over the past two years, the TaRL Programme has demonstrated consistent, measurable improvement in literacy and numeracy. Baseline and endline assessments from 2024 and 2025 highlight the programme’s effectiveness:


At Jack Francis Primary School, innumeracy dropped dramatically from 75% to 21%.


At Otjimuhaka Mobile Unit and Ovituambu Primary School, which serve nomadic communities, learners’ division-level skills improved by up to 41%.


Several participating schools recorded reductions of 20 to 50 percentage points in the number of learners unable to perform basic mathematical tasks.


These outcomes reflect the programme’s unique learner-centred approach, which assesses and groups learners according to their actual learning levels rather than age or grade.


“We express our deepest gratitude to the Capricorn Foundation. This investment enables us to deliver this transformative methodology to the schools that need it most. TaRL is a globally recognised initiative that strengthens basic literacy and numeracy in primary schools. In Namibia, the programme—nationally endorsed and implemented by 10 Regional Directorates of the Ministry of Education since 2020—has proven that targeted, level-based instruction works,” said Angelica Towne Amporo, Meerkat Learning Country Director.


She further noted, “The TaRL Programme is only as strong as the people behind it, and in Kunene we have an exceptional team—from dedicated schoolteachers and the leadership of the Regional Director, Ms Sophia Ferdrieck, to committed volunteers and learners. In a remarkably short period, we have seen children rekindle their enthusiasm for learning, mastering basic reading and math at accelerated levels.”


“As we look ahead to 2026, I am filled with optimism. We will deepen our reach into more remote schools, expand our impact, and continue proving that with the right tools, training, and support, every teacher can help every child reach their full potential,” she concluded.