Students waved flags in the campus of Chairman Mao Zedong School in Namibia's capital, Windhoek on Sept.27, 2019. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
The Chinese-donated Chairman Mao Zedong High School is igniting education fever in the Otjomuise area on the outskirts of Namibia's capital Windhoek.
by Ndalimpinga Iita
WINDHOEK, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-donated Chairman Mao Zedong High School is igniting education fever in the Otjomuise area on the outskirts of Namibia's capital Windhoek.
The school, whose first intake initially accommodated learners taught under makeshift structures including tents at Jan Mohr Project School in Windhoek, opened in 2016.
George Louw, principal of Chairman Mao Zedong High School, said that the school has grown since opening its doors in 2016. The school, which caters for grades 8-12, now accommodates 654 learners.
The school has also, over the years, built an excellent reputation for academic excellence, being rated fourth in 2018 grade nine new revised curriculum examination.
"The school also attained a 100 percent pass rate for Higher Level English Second Language," Louw said.
The school has developed into a place of knowledge acquisition and talent grooming to unearth many skills of learners. Today, it is seen as a beaming light of hope to the community for its multiple benefits.
When grade-eight Shanequil Beukes enrolled at the school, she never imagined it would present more than just academic prosperity.
"The school boasts good facilities and committed teachers. We are also accorded the chance to explore other talents," Beukes said Thursday.
Photo taken on Sept.27, 2019 shows Chairman Mao Zedong School. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
According to Louw, in providing holistic education, the school furthermore employs extramural activities to nurture young talents. These include sport codes like soccer, netball, basketball, and athletics.
Other activities include debate, chess, arts, culture, dancing, and Chinese language classes, offered under the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia.
For grade nine learner Dantani Sofika, the diverse activities led her to join the Chinese language classes offered at the school in the afternoons.
"Enrolling for the Chinese lessons enabled me to communicate with people from around the globe and in the future, pursue further studies in China. It altered my outlook on life and dreams," Sofika said.
The aim, said Louw, is to give learners further the opportunity to learn a third language.
"The ability to speak the language will aid them to qualify and obtain scholarships to study in China. Moreover, they can also compete against other scholars around the globe in Mandarin," he added.
A total of 30 learners are enrolled for the Chinese language classes at the school. Some learners have traveled to China.
Meanwhile, the school (built in an area dominated by shack dwellings) has also had a positive snowball effect on the surrounding community. For parents and guardians, the school's architectural structure has changed not only the skyline but also socio-economic challenges.
Lovisa Shilongo, a resident of Otjomuise, said that the establishment of the school had addressed some social problems.
"Before the school was established, I would enroll my children in schools far from home, which as expensive to cover transport cost. Nevertheless, since the opening of this school a stone throw away from home, children no longer suffer. I can now save the funds I used to cover transport and divert them to other household needs," said Shilongo.
Meanwhile, as the Namibian government enhances efforts to accelerate the provision of education, the Chinese embassy has also, over the years, assisted with the maintenance of the school to further aid the school and encourage excellent performance.
"The embassy also sponsors scholarships for the top ten performers annually with an amount 20,000 Namibian dollars (1,370 U.S. dollars)," Louw added.
In the interim, Louw lauded the friendly relations between the two countries, stating that such links foster financial and humanitarian aid, which contribute to social progress and Namibia's development.
The Namibian education fraternity is amongst the sectors that has benefited greatly from China-Namibia bilateral ties and Chinese aid over the years. ■
