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Beaming Change: Namibia’s Eduvision Remote Education Project
August 10, 2023
A smart-tech program sponsored by B2Gold Namibia is redefining quality education in remote areas of the country – enabling students of more regions and backgrounds to pursue their school and career goals.
The Eduvision Project, implemented by the Edugate Academy in Otjiwarongo and funded in part by B2Gold and our Ojtikoto Mine Project, allows teachers to use SMARTboards to beam lessons to schools in remote areas via a dedicated satellite link, reaching several classrooms simultaneously.
“Our aim is to equalize the quality of teaching and learning received by pupils in rural areas with that of their peers in urban centres like Otjiwarongo,” said Frikkie Louw, principal of Edugate Academy.
From pilot project to education lifeline for Namibian youth
Eduvision had a confident but modest start in 2018, piloting the project at Tsumkwe Secondary School, located in a marginalized community 487 km from Otjiwarongo. The school has seen remarkable results from the program, with its academic national ranking climbing from 183 in 2018 to 34 in 2020. Two Tsumkwe Secondary pupils are now enrolled at the University of Namibia, studying education and science. This would have been unheard of in the past, as Tsumkwe pupils seldom previously completed their school careers.
Today, with the support of sponsors like B2Gold, and 13 other companies, Edugate is beaming lessons in math, physical science, biology, chemistry, English and economics to 7,330 Grade 8-to-12 learners in 16 schools, spread over seven regions.
Education directors from three regions have requested access to recorded lessons for non-project schools, which means that more than 10,000 additional pupils have access to Eduvision lessons. In addition, reliable Internet access provides access to a wealth of additional e-learning resources, including lessons and networking opportunities for both learners and teachers.
Expanding Eduvision to reach more Namibian students
Edugate has plans to expand its programs. As Jurita Potgieter, an Edugate teacher and project team member, explains: “The next crucial step is to pull primary schools into the fold by starting to record lessons for Grades 1 to 3. We also want to investigate the possibility of implementing a life skills program to further combat the high drop-out rate among rural learners.”
The Eduvision Project has the potential to make a significant impact on the socio-economic growth of Namibia. By equalizing the quality of education in rural areas with that of urban centres, the project is on its way to improving the overall performance of rural schools and providing opportunities for students who may have otherwise been left behind. And as more pupils successfully complete their schooling, and plough their skills back into their communities, the nation as a whole will benefit.
