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ICT Boost for Unam's Northern Campus(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Millennium Challenge Account in Namibia (MCA-N) handed over information and communication technology equipment worth N$2.4 million to the University of Namibia's Hifikepunye Pohamba campus in Ongwediva. MCA-N has disbursed huge amounts of money on educational and agricultural projects as it prepares to conclude its projects in Namibia next month. In total over the past two years MCA-N has supported the Hifikepunye Pohamba campus with funding to the tune of N$5.1 million, which will benefit the Department of Mathematics and Science and the campus at large. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the MCA-N Education Director Tuli-Mevava Nghiyoonanye said the ICT equipment support to Unam is intended to improve the quality of teacher education in science and ICT and to contribute towards the realisation of compact objectives. "The compact objectives are to improve the quality of the workforce in Namibia by enhancing the equity and effectiveness of basic, vocational, and tertiary education and technical skills," stated Nghiyoonanye. The MCA-N's equipment support to teacher education complements the efforts of the government, such as the teacher education reform programme as informed by the Education Sector and Training Improvement Programme (ETSIP). Nghiyoonanye who spoke on behalf of MCA-N said she was confident the equipment would serve the professional needs of Unam and place the university in a position to improve the delivery of science and ICT teaching across the country. She said with more effort in the use and application of the equipment the Hifikepunye Pohamba campus could also have a significant impact on the lives of many young learners who are aspiring to become science and ICT teachers. Also speaking at the event, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Science Dr Helena Miranda said the university has observed a 15 percent improvement in academic achievement in the science department and 7 percent improvement in overall academic performance at campus level. "I am sure that the support we have been getting from MCA has immensely contributed to this positive achievement," stated Miranda. The donated equipment include 14 smart interactive white boards, 8 smart personal computers, 5 document projectors, 167 desktop computers, 3 speaker systems, 4 projector screens designed for both wall and ceiling mounting, and a science kit containing chemicals, equipment and apparatus to enhance science teaching and professional development of the serving teachers. Copyright New Era. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |