Afrisam Cement Namibia yesterday made a donation of customized computer equipment worth N$110000 for integrated learning for children with special needs at Welwitschia School in Eros.
These are 32 classmate notebook laptops that are expected to greatly enhance teaching and learning at the school.
Addressing the event was Dr David Namwandi, the Deputy Minister of Education, who said the apartheid system for a long time had ignored to cater for people with different learning abilities and had failed to give them opportunities that would enhance their abilities and let them contribute in their own ways to the development of the nation.
In this regard, Namwandi applauded Welwitschia School saying such schools are very few and it is the wish of the Ministry of Education to have a number of them in the regions.
He said the absence of these schools in the regions has put pressure on an established few, especially in Windhoek.
"Education will always need some form of technology in order to remain abreast with global trends, particularly in relation to the labour market. Hence our sincere gratitude to Afrisam Cement Namibia for this generous donation of the equipment to Welwitschia School," said Namwandi.
Namwandi stated that schools for integrated learning are very important in society in that they give opportunity to learners with learning difficulties to enable them to attend full-time schools and not struggle in the mainstream classes (inclusive education).
These are children who find it difficult to master skills such as reading, writing, mathematics or spelling.
Namwandi was however delighted that at least a few children with dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, central auditory processing disorders, Down syndrome, articulation disorders, autism all will benefit from the donated computers and will be able to progress much faster than it would have been in the absence of this customized and specialized equipment.
He commended Afrisam for all past contributions towards entrepreneurship development programmes and training in the Erongo, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Karas, Khomas, Caprivi, Kavango and Oshikoto regions.
Namwandi further urged education stakeholders to come forward and support initiatives of this kind, as Government alone cannot fulfill a myriad of its functions.
"The value of education to the economic development of a country can not be underestimated. Education is the biggest catalyst towards eradication of poverty. Such an investment in education is a guarantee towards a better future," he noted.
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