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Windhoek, Friday, 22 October 2010
MEDIA RELEASE Embargo: For immediate release
MCA NAMIBIA HANDS OVER TABORATORY EQUIPMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA (UNAM)COITEGES OF EDUCATTON AND UNAM SCTENCE DEPARTMENT
The Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N) handed over equipment on Thursday, 21 October 2010, worth NS500 000 to the UNAM Colleges of Education and UNAM Science Department to improve
the quality of science teaching in the subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Science, Chemistry and Biology. The ceremony took place at UNAM's main campus in Windhoek. The science teaching equipment was handed to UNAM (Faculty of Education, Science Teaching Department) and through UNAM to distribute to the four (4) colleges of education - now the UNAM Regional Campuses namely Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Ongwediva and Windhoek. The equipment include amongst other: digestive models, human torso models, microscopes, hydrometers, voltmeters triple scales, force meters, density kits, circuit board kits, digital stopwatches, lab coats and scientific calculators.
Handing over the equipment, Penny Akwenye, CEO of MCA Namibia said "the science equipment for laboratories and other specialized items and materials will help ensure that Colleges of Education and UNAM are better equipped to produce good quality teachers and teacher educators". Akwenye further remarked that the equipment will make science lessons and experiments much more manageable, appreciated and enjoyable and thus meeting the goals of MCA Namibia Education project and of the Government.
Also officiating at the handover was Ava Rogers, the Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Namibia, who noted that "the equipment will allow teacher educators to instil a high degree of competence in science and technology in trainee teachers, allowing them to pass these vital skills over to keen learners,
and inspiring them to seek an even greater understanding of the natural world and ways to sustainably exploit it to the benefit of Namibia and the world".
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UNAM Pro-Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance Dr. Boniface Mutumba, who together with the science students received the equipment, said he is glad that the Colleges of Education and UNAM were
beneficiaries of the equipment as inadequacy of laboratory equipment has over the years proved to be the main challenge in producing teacher educators. Dr. Mutumba said the equipment will enhance the learning process of the teachers at tertiary level.
MCA Namibia is responding to the needs of the Government which were identified in the Education and Training Sectors lmprovement Programme (ETSIP) which has been identified as: 1) Low quality and effectiveness as evidenced in low student learning outcomes 2) Persisting inequalities in distribution of education inputs and outcomes 3) Low capacity for knowledge creation and application 4) Doubtful development and market relevance, and 5) lnadequate financial resources as the key sector areas requiring improvement in education.
The MCA Namibia Education project seeks to improve the quality of general education through the improvement of infrastructure and equipment in primary and secondary schools. lssued by
",ffita*.44* Penny Akwenye
Chief Executive Officer: MCA Namibia
Enquiries: Rosa Hamukuaja-Thobias
E-mail:
[email protected] +26a $I) ALO 418 Tel: Cell: +2648II225827
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