Kunene Resource School symbolises Namibia’s commitment to inclusive education

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Kamanjab, 26 April 2025

At the onset, I would like to congratulate Kunene region for its recent victory in the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup and the historic achievement of Mamie Kasaona as being the first female coach to lead this mighty region to victory. 

Congratulations coach Kasaona and congratulations to the people of Kunene Region.

Today we stand at a turning point, not only for the people of Kamanjab and the Kunene region, but for our country’s long-term journey toward inclusive and equitable development. The groundbreaking of the Kunene Resource School marks a vital milestone in our national education infrastructure agenda, and I am pleased to be part of this significant milestone.

The government of the Republic of Namibia, under my leadership, has placed access to inclusive, quality education at the heart of our development vision. This includes a deliberate commitment to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of ability, location, or circumstance.

In 2022, the National Conference on Education compelled us to renew our priorities. One of its key outcomes was the recognition that our education infrastructure must evolve to meet the needs of all learners. What followed was a bold, multi-year initiative led by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture – a national drive to strengthen education infrastructure from 2023 to 2030, with a specific focus on inclusive access across all fourteen regions.

Kunene is among the regions where that commitment has now taken visible form.

The case for this school is clear: more than 500 children in this region live with a range of disabilities, from hearing and visual impairments to autism, intellectual and physical disabilities. These children have for too long faced structural barriers that limited their access to appropriate, adapted education. This project is a decisive response to that challenge.

The Kunene Regional Council, under the leadership of the then governor Marius Sheya, acted with vision and urgency in calling for a dedicated resource school. The ministry heard that call, not as a request, but as a responsibility. And so today, we break ground on a school that will feature dedicated facilities for learners with hearing, visual and intellectual impairments. This is not an ordinary school. It is a purpose-built space designed with care, adapted to curriculum, and aligned with Namibia’s Sector Policy on Inclusive Education. 

It will house classrooms, hostel blocks, ablution facilities, and a kitchen and dining area. Most importantly, it will offer dignity and tailored support to learners who deserve every opportunity to grow, thrive, and contribute.

I wish to note that the choice of Kamanjab as the site is not incidental. Its central location and accessible road infrastructure make it an ideal hub, one that will serve communities across the region efficiently and equitably. Furthermore, we have taken deliberate steps to ensure that the construction process itself is streamlined. By partnering with a public entity for the execution of this first phase, we are prioritising both efficiency and accountability. 

This phase, valued at approximately N$34.8 million, will be completed within this financial year, 2025/26.

This government does not simply build schools. We build the future. We act with purpose so that every child, regardless of the challenges they may face, finds their place in the Namibian house. As we turn this soil, we recommit, not just to infrastructure, but to equity, inclusion and justice. Let us move forward with resolve, and ensure that this project becomes a model for how public investment can touch lives where it matters most.

I extend my gratitude to the Kunene Regional Council, the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, our local leaders, and the parents and communities who continue to believe in the power of education to transform lives.

Let us work together, with one vision and one purpose, to bring this school to completion. And let it stand, not only as a building, but as a statement of who we are and what we stand for as a country. Let the dust of hope be seen everywhere in Namibia – especially at Epupa, Sesfontein, Opuwo Rural, Opuwo Urban, Khorixas, Outjo, and right here at Kamanjab.

I thank you.

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