Remarks

Ambassador Dennise Mathieu
Remarks
Basic Education Support Project Close-out Conference
Heja Lodge
Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:00 p.m.

THE VIEW OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY
                                     

Good Afternoon.  It’s a pleasure to be here this afternoon to celebrate the USAID Basic Education Support program.  And even though this is a close-out workshop, I am pleased to say that our support to the education sector will continue.  So thank you for inviting me and allowing me to present the perspective of the United States on education and our support to this sector in Namibia.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States once said: 

“Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first 4 sharpening the axe.” 

Of course, he was talking about the importance of preparation, and his saying can be used in our context this afternoon to illustrate the necessity of investing in education.

As you know, it is absolutely essential to dedicate significant financial and personnel resources to the education sector.  Only by taking these steps can we equip our young people with skills and knowledge and instill in them the proper attitude that ultimately will enable them to improve their standards of living and function as productive and progressive members of society.

Since independence the Government of Namibia has demonstrated its commitment to investing in education, setting aside on average 20% of its budget for education, one of the highest levels in the world.  During the past 19 years, the United States Government has been a proud partner of the Government of Namibia, helping to lay a strong foundation for the future of this country by investing close to N$400 million in the education sector.  Today’s a celebration of this fruitful partnership and we can applaud ourselves for the numerous successes we’ve achieved in improving the quality of education that is offered in Namibia today.

I know you have already discussed the many innovative pilot activities that were implemented by USAID in the 6 northern regions, and were subsequently institutionalized by the Ministry of Education, but I’d just like to cite a few of them again:

• the introduction of learner-centered education, and continuous assessment as teaching methodologies in Namibian schools;

• the training of more than 15,000 in-service and pre-service teachers for grades 1-7;

• the establishment of computer labs  at 35 schools, the 4 colleges of education, and 3 teacher resource centers, working in collaboration with SchoolNet, the National Institute of Education (NIED) and other international and national partners;

• the development of a Grade 4 diagnostic test, and further collaboration to develop similar tools for Grades 5 and 7, which will be implemented under ETSIP; 

• the training of regional educational officers and school board members in the formation and implementation of School Development Plans; and

• the issuance of 5,300 scholarships since 2004 for marginalized and vulnerable girls and boys in grades 1-7, and the public-private partnership established with Standard Bank to enable these students to complete secondary school.

These accomplishments clearly demonstrate what President Lincoln meant when he described the importance of sharpening the axe.

Through USAID, we have conducted a multi-faceted education program, helping to educate young people and assist them to become more marketable for employment, which, as we know, will help end the cycle of poverty affecting many youth, their families and their communities.  Although the USAID Basic Education Support program which will be phased out at the end of this month, it is important to remember that the United States will continue to support the education sector in other ways.

The Millennium Challenge Compact will provide more than N$1.1 billion to the education sector for textbooks; technical assistance to improve the quality of education; and the construction and renovation of schools, Community Skills Development Centers, and Regional Study and Resource Centers.  Peace Corps Volunteers will continue to teach English, math and science skills, and train their counterparts in schools around the country.  In addition, programs to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the education sector will continue under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. 

I commend all the government officials, development partners, and local stakeholders who are committed to making “quality education” in Namibia a reality.  I’d also like to thank the USAID staff and officials of the Academy for Educational Development who’ve worked consistently to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Education.  And to all of our partners and those of you here today, again, thank you, for your dedication.