Education revolutionised

The FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust has shown generous support to make the programme a success.
ELIZABETH JOSEPH
Ester Kamati



The Katutura-based St Barnabas Primary School recently launched the Edulution programme, courtesy of First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, which donated N$211 680.

Edulution is a global programme that originated in Zambia, which aids scholars to strengthen their mathematics skills through transformed systems, including the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the form of tablets.

Although the programme has been active at the school since March, the official launch took place on 22 October.

Edulution currently has 10 centres at local primary schools, with about 2 600 children between grades 4 and 7 taking part in the programme.

Edulution Namibia marketing and communications officer Mike Clarke said each learner gets their own tablet to use during lessons, for online programmes and exercises.

Learners attend Edulution lessons twice a week for two hours after school.

Clarke added that they work closely with the school and math teachers to identify children who are struggling.

“They all work at their own pace; that is what’s special.”

The learning process is facilitated by grade 12 learners who act as coaches.

They are paid based on the performance of the learners they teach or tutor.

In this way they are incentivised. There are three coaches per centre and 30 coaches in total.

“It is a reality that in Namibia school learners lag significantly behind their peers from elsewhere in the world, with regard to numeracy and literacy skills,” said Nahason Mbangura, the school principal.

He added that the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust has shown generous support to make the programme at the school a success.

“FNB Namibia strives to play a big role in offering a helping hand, in ensuring that every child has an opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Clara Bohitile, chairperson of the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust.

She further urged teachers and parents to support the children, as they use this opportunity to learn and embrace technology.