BOOKS FOR NAMIBIA

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Welcome to Promote Africa
The Challenges Facing Namibian Education

Namibia is one of many countries suffering from a substandard educational system due to the lack of funding, resources, manpower, oppression, post-colonial infrastructure collapse, and disease. The situation is further complicated by the overwhelming functional illiteracy plaguing this country. Independence in 1990 brought hope to an oppressed people; however, it also brought many challenges and a new language that has not been implemented effectively in the school system.

Grades 1-4 are taught in the native tribal language of the children's respective region in an attempt to retain cultural identity (English is only taught as a subject at this point). Then, abruptly in grade 5, the medium of instruction switches entirely to English. Students are severely handicapped in all subjects and it is difficult for many to effectively make this transition which will follow them through University and ultimately to the job market.

There is an expectation that these students must be able to communicate, comprehend, and critically analyze verbal and written English. But how is this possible when the child has no significant opportunity to explore the language and develop the necessary reasoning abilities?

One method to address the functional illiteracy epidemic is to provide these students with access to books and reading comprehension programs to enhance utilization of those texts in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, most government schools in Namibia are in need of creating or further developing a library to facilitate this endeavor.

The goal of the Books for Namibia is to help fight this epidemic of illiteracy and motivate young minds to take control of their lives by placing educational resources into the hands of young Namibian students. The future of these students, Namibia, and the developing world rests upon educating and empowering the youth! Through education we find hope and can begin to envision a different Africa - where the doors of opportunity are opened and preventable disease such as HIV/AIDS can be diminished.

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