The funding resulted from discussions with French Education Minister Gilles de Robien, who is on an official three-day visit to Namibia.

The loan disbursement will start in 2008 and is a direct budgetary support to the Ministry, Mbumba explained.

ETSIP is a multi-million-dollar project over the next 15 years to improve the education sector.

The French Minister said his Government would start a French-language pre-primary class next year at the Deutsche Hoehere Privatschule (DHPS) in Windhoek.

Both countries will also cooperate on scientific research.

A second HESS telescope will be set up on the Gamsberg Mountain in the Khomas Hochland under a new research group of Namibia, Germany, France and South Africa.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  'DRC refugee' arrested at airport
•  Keetmanshoop grapples with debt, at odds with Receiver
•  Namibia plagued by gender-based violence
•  'Struggle Kids' are happy campers
•  Teachers 'plot to kill' principal
•  Zero tolerance for road hogs
•  Nujoma Foundation raises N$300 000 at gala dinner
•  Young man sent to jail for killing older brother
•  Three die in lorry crash
•  Henties Bay 'in a mess'
•  High Court upholds labour-hire ban
•  Oshakati nervously eyes the sky
•  Shamil Dirk's graft case postponed again
•  ACC nabs Otavi Village Council CEO
•  Justice driver accused of looting
•  Job equity has improved
•  Ombudsman complains about Justice Ministry
•  New plan for Cuvelai Basin
•  APP postpones congress
•  Zim to ignore tribunal ruling
•  Immigration locks up SA journalist
•  Youth gets four years for rape
•  Swapo closes ranks