The lack of qualified teachers is one of the main challenges faced by the Namibian education system. For many years, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Namibia and the AGDS (Arbeits- und Fördergemeinschaft der Deutschen Schulvereine in Namibia) have therefore provided scholarships to Namibian students studying for a Bachelor of Education in order to make this study course more attractive. On 29 June 2016, H.E. Ambassador Christian Schlaga of the German Embassy Windhoek, handed over an amount of 127.500,00 N$ to the AGDS. With this sum, the Embassy is financing the tuition fees for four students this year.

Last year Bianca Menne, Svea Oestlund, Ilze Schumann und Denise //Khoi-Aos received the scholarship from the German Embassy. “I always wanted to become a German teacher so that I can inspire children to learn German and perhaps become German teachers themselves one day. Without the support of the AGDS and the Embassy that would not have been possible.” said Denise //Khoi-Aos, who was present the handing-over of the cheques. Ambassador Schlaga emphasized the importance of the teaching profession and encouraged students so seek out contact with German teaching students, so that they might sit in on classes at a German school after finishing their studies and before beginning their employment at a Namibian school.

The AGDS is the umbrella organisation for eight parents’ boards, representing ten schools where German as a First Language is taught. Currently, 12 students are provided with bursaries, who in exchange agree to teach German as a mother tongue or German as a Foreign Language at one of the AGDS schools for some years once they have completed their education.

The AGDS, supported by the German Embassy, makes an important contribution to the support and education of new teachers in Namibia.