Rössing donates 180 computers for education
(30 November 2009)

Rössing Uranium is donating 180 computers to nine different primary schools in the Erongo region with a total value of N$405 000. The computers will be used as teaching and learning aids necessary to foster quality education in line with the Namibian Ministry of Education's policy on the use of Information Communication Technology. Tamariskia Primary School in Swakopmund was the first to receive 20 computers.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony yesterday, John Awaseb, Education Regional Director, reiterated that: “It is important to stress that the quality of education, the quality of teaching and the quality of learning will be enhanced by the effective use of ICT in our schools”. “These donations will enable our schools to become part of the global world of information and allow learners to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly linked to new technologies”.

Rössing's Manager Corporate Communications and External Relations, Jerome Mutumba, said at the occasion: “As a passionate proponent of quality education, I believe that early computer literacy will go a long way to equip learners with life skills needed to navigate in today's digital society. On Rössing's corporate social investment programmes he added that the Rössing Foundation received N$59 million last year to help in the execution of its educational assistance programs and another substantial contribution will be made in 2009 whilst the mine continues to support efforts geared towards empowering the youth through education and the social uplifting of all Namibians.

From left to right: Jerome Mutumba, Regina Plaatjie and John Awaseb during the official handover ceremony of the donated computers Learners at the Tamariskia Primary School testing the refurbished computers donated by Rössing Uranium

A recent achievement is the establishment of three Maths and Science centres in Swakopmund, Arandis and Ondangwa where computers are used to help children develop their skills in the subjects of mathematics and science. In accepting the donation, Principal of Tamariskia Primary School, Regina Plaatjie, referred to the schools' learners in saying: “The new generation need to become computer literate if they want to progress in their professional lives and the management of the school will commit themselves to dedicate at least one period per week to all 940 learners for computer classes as from next year”.

Theo Whittaker of the Windhoek based Community Education Computer Society of Namibia, CECS, saw to it that all the computers were in excellent working condition with installed software from Microsoft Namibia. The CECS will also maintain the computers and provide training for teachers. Over the forthcoming months eight more schools in the region will benefit from this donation. The other schools to receive computers are Festus Gonteb Junior Primary School, Immanuel Ruiters Junior Primary School, Narraville Primary School, Arandis Primary School, Kamwandi Primary School, Katora Primary School, Brandberg Primary School and JP Brand Primary School.

 

 

Released by:
Jerome Mutumba
Manager Corporate Communications and External Relations

Enquiries:
Alwyn Lubbe
Superintendent Corporate Communications and External Relations