Germany supports Namibia in teacher training

From 19-21 July 2019, approximately 85 participants met in Otjiwarongo for the ‘Dieter-Esslinger-Seminar for German Speaking Teachers’ organised by the Goethe-Institut Namibia, the Arbeits- und Fördergemeinschaft Deutscher Schulvereine (AGDS) and the University of Namibia.

The conference offered several workshops for the participating teachers to improve their teaching methods in Namibian classrooms. Seminar facilitator ‘WORTSPIEL’ from Germany presented their artistic-educational concept for German lessons in schools. Prof. Dr. Zappen-Thomson, a lecturer at the University of Namibia, gave a talk on “The Precarious Status of German Studies and the Subject of German in Educational Institutions in Southern Africa”.

Mrs. Ellen Gölz, Chargée d'Affaires at the German Embassy Windhoek, also attended the conference. In her welcoming address, she pointed out the efforts being made by the German government and other German organisations to improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession and teacher training in Namibia.

For example, the German Embassy has been supporting the AGDS  scholarship program for BA Education students for many years. This year alone, the Federal Foreign Office is supporting the program with a grant of N$116 100.00 for 17 AGDS scholarship holders at UNAM and at South African universities. Furthermore, the Pedagogical Exchange Service provides further training opportunities for  local teachers through internships at schools in Germany. This year, the program will be attended by two Namib High School and two DHPS teachers. As part of the partner schoolprogram PASCH, the Goethe-Institut Namibia  supports schools that offer German as a foreign language through the provision of teaching materials, advice and the provision of training opportunities such as the Teachers' Conference.

In addition, Mrs. Gölz and representatives of the German Private School Otjiwarongo signed a contract for financial support in the amount of approximately N$120,000.00 for the purchase of an interactive smartboard. The school will thus be able to improve the quality of teaching and network with other schools