Maria David
ACTING Executive Director in the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Nichlas Mbingeneeko, said that the inauguration of the MTC Onawa Model Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre will provide essential early childhood development services to local children.
Mbingeneeko made the remarks during the official inauguration of the MTC Onawa Model ECD Centre at Onawa location in Oshakati on Friday.
According to Mbingeneeko, the centre will also serve as a hub for various activities such as educator training, parental workshops, and counselling, thereby strengthening early childhood development in the area.
“Additionally, the centre will provide space for community meetings and ministerial services, including birth registration outreach initiatives,” he said.
He added that the ministry, as the custodian of ECD in the country, is pleased by the concerted efforts of stakeholders who have the well-being of children’s foundation at heart.
Mbingeneeko then appealed to the residents of Onawa to take good care of their young children, who are Namibia’s future, and ensure that they are enrolled in the program.
MTC Manager for Corporate Affairs, John Ekongo, said MTC provided a sum of N$800,000 as part of their commitment to ensuring that each year they construct two classrooms in the country.
Ekongo indicated that they kicked off the MTC Rural Schools Project in 2019, and the project has thus far built a total of 49 classrooms.
“The regions that have benefited from the project are Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Oshana, Hardap, Karas, Kavango West, Zambezi, Ohangwena, and now the Oshikoto region. We are continuing with our project until we reach all 14 regions,” he said.
He added that for the next ten years, they aim to ensure that they construct enough classrooms across the country.
DWN Country Director, Jessica Brown, added that children who attend these early childhood development centres learn how to interact with others, share, and develop healthy relationships.
She indicated that research has shown that high-quality early childhood education can have long-term benefits for children, such as better academic performance and a reduced likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system.
She explained that children who attend high-quality early childhood development centres are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue tertiary education, and have successful careers.
Oshakati Town Mayor, Leonard Hango, said the Onawa ECD Centre is a product of teamwork and collaboration, as it will contribute to the safety of the learners, ensuring that they are nurtured in an environment where they can grow, learn, and build the skills that will carry them throughout their educational journey and beyond.
Hango stressed that this is only the beginning of the impact that the centre will have on the lives of the children and their families. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the ECD Centre remains a beacon of hope, inclusivity, and opportunity for every child in Onawa.
