According to a report by the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity’s 2016 on ‘investing in education for a changing world’, the level of education in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa is 70 years behind that of developed economies in Asia and Europe. The report urges African countries to catch up with the rest of the world, and to do so they must expand their education facilities within the next 30 years.
The unveiling of the report was done by former president of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete on his courtesy call with President Hage Geingob at his official resident at Swakopmund. Kikwete is part of United Nations’ special envoy for global education where he is the commissioner of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity.
This report also forecasts the population of students in Namibia to double within the next 24 years from its current figure of 650,000. Kikwete urged Namibia to put up sufficient education infrastructure and ensure all Namibian students have access to quality education.
Kikwete told President Geingob, “This will also make it easier for the next president as you now lay the foundation.”
The report also acknowledges the fact that Namibia has put in commendable efforts towards improving access to quality education to its citizens. Some of the efforts put by the government of Namibia include financing and development of infrastructure.
“Namibia should be proud as your current enrollment in primary education is 100%,” said Kikwete.
The report recommends that Namibia should continue spending on education in order to ensure equity and equality in its future.
President Geingob responded by saying Namibia has started the process of addressing some of the biggest challenges in its education sector and is working on ensuring equity for all.
President Geingob noted that the country is finding it a challenge to get donors to partner with in the development of education in the country. The president attributes the lack of donor to the perception the international community has of Namibia being a middle-income economy and well able to finance its education.
President Geingob said, “This is the problem I have with donors, they think we are rich but we are poor. I tried convincing them but they do not believe me.”