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 for primary and secondary school in order to make this study course more attractive. 

On 24 April 2017, Ambassador Christian Schlaga of the German Embassy Windhoek, handed over a cheque to the amount of 107.550,00 N$ to the AGDS. With this sum, the Embassy is financing the tuition fees for three to four students this year.  

Last year Bianca Menne, Svea Oestlund and Ilze Schumann received the scholarship from the German Embassy. With the financial contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany, the AGDS is able to support six new students in 2017 with a scholarship.  

“I would like to thank you for your support for the teachers in Namibia. Without the support of the AGDS and the German Embassy, my dream to become a teacher would have to be postponed for several years.” said Janka Mosich, one of the scholarship holders present at the handing over. Ambassador Schlaga emphasized the importance of the teaching profession and encouraged students to teach in rural areas for some years after the completion of their studies, since a lack of teachers is most pronounced there.  

The AGDS is the umbrella organisation for seven parents’ boards, representing ten schools where German as a First Language is taught. Currently, 14 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.