Reimagining Namibia’s E-Learning Landscape

In a step towards inclusive, future-facing education, Gondwana Care Trust representatives recently joined EduVision’s hands-on training sessions across three of its schools in the Namib Desert.

They are St Therese Secondary School at Tses
(//Kharas region), PI Groenewald Secondary School at Gochas, and Schlip Primary School at Schlip (in the Hardap region).

These schools now form part of a growing movement to expand access to quality education in Namibia – no matter their location.

Namibia is marred by deep-seated discrepancies in the quality of education available to pupils, particularly in urban (resourced) compared to rural (under-served) areas.

EduVision is a non-profit initiative, officially founded in 2018, with a vision to revolutionise education to better serve both pupils and educators across Namibia.

By equipping schools with interactive learning technologies and training educators to move from ‘chalk and talk’ teaching methods to online, blended learning, EduVision empowers Namibian schools through embracing modern technology.

Gondwana Care Trust shares this vision, recognising education as a cornerstone of both individual dignity and national development – especially in under-served areas limited by distance and infrastructure.

Since formally adopting the schools at Tses and Schlip in January 2023 and recently adding Gochas, the Gondwana Care Trust ensures that each school’s e-learning equipment is fully functional and maintained.

The trust’s monthly support includes maintaining each school’s access to EduVision’s online platform, internet, and the resources needed to help teachers and pupils access online learning materials and shared educational content.

Each EduVision school is equipped with interactive whiteboards, artificial intelligence-supported learning tools and software, cameras, and microphones.

These tools enable multimedia digital lesson planning and teachers to not only host, record and join other live online lessons, but also to store and access content across EduVision’s 22-school network.

From Tsumkwe to Tses, lessons can be shared and streamed to complement classroom learning. It’s not about replacing teaching, it’s about elevating it with technology.

Facilitated by EduVision administrator and trainer Jurita Potgieter and visionary founder oom Frikkie Louw, the training focused on equipping teachers with digital lesson planning skills and navigating software tools and shared online educational content.

Pupils were introduced to the transformative power of e-learning, not to replace critical thinking, but to expand it.

“The future is in your hands,” Louw told Grade 11 and 12 pupils at Tses.

“Only you can make a difference,” he says.

In total, 34 teachers attended the sessions, 20 at Schlip and 14 at Tses.

Subjects represented included English, mathematics, geography, biology, physics, history, economics, and life skills.

“It’s very useful,” says Mario Strauss, a maths teacher at Schlip.

“You can work easier and help learners understand with add-on content from the internet.”

This e-learning partnership supports Namibia’s National Development Plan 6’s priorities focused on human capital development, digital transformation, and improved education outcomes.

It further advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4: Quality Education, 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by expanding access to quality education and enhancing digital capacity in schools through sustained investment in learning and skills development.

Furthermore, the partnership speaks to one of Gondwana’s values: You can only be successful if you make others successful.

This is a calling the company lives by, and which informs its Care Trust initiatives.

Desiree Nau-eises, a life skills teacher at Gochas, says: “We are in a small town, but we know we are in your hearts, because you have assisted our school to access learning resources, and for that we extend our gratitude to the Gondwana Care Trust.”

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.