A year of achievement and growth

It's been one year since !Aimablaagte Primary School opened its doors, becoming the first school in Mariental to introduce English as the medium of instruction for grades zero to seven.

The staff, learners and community celebrated a year of remarkable achievements and growth. The school, which was founded with the vision of providing quality education and fostering a strong sense of community, has undoubtedly made a positive impact on the lives of many.

Inaugurated in July 2022, !Aimablaagte Primary School began with 256 leaners in grades zero and one, six teachers who transferred from Mariental Primary School and Mrs Motinga as the acting principal - a small group of dedicated educators and a handful of eager learners. Today, it stands tall as a symbol of academic excellence and a nurturing environment that promotes both learning and personal development.

Over the course of the past year, !Aimablaagte Primary School has left an indelible mark on its learners through a dynamic curriculum that encourages creativity, critical thinking and team-work.

Now, the school steps out of the shadow of Mariental Primary and assumes its own identity, after it was registered as a primary school by the ministry of education, arts and culture and the subsequent election of its first school board - consisting of nine members - in May.

On the board, five parents represent the parent community, while four teachers represent the staff.

“We aware that through sports, learners can develop communication and social relationship skills, interact and bond. As they grow, these friendships can help change attitudes and mindsets and break down the stigma and artificially created barriers that currently prevent inclusion based on class in society,” the acting principal said.

The school's 'Let All Kids Play' project was borne out of a dire need to address the conspicuous absence of physical facilities such as a playground, soccer, and netball and athletics courts. “It is with this in mind that we extend a hand of partnership to Debmarine Namibia and Netball Namibia to undertake this exciting journey with us through this project,” she said.

Early this year, the school held its first athletics meeting and it is planning to host an annual street mile in collaboration with Athletics Namibia to groom future athletes.

At the start of this semester, the school also introduced an extra 30-minute session - after the normal school day - to assist leaners who are experiencing difficulties to master basic competencies.

One of the challenges facing the school is the glaring absence of physical infrastructure such as playground and sports facilities. Other challenges include the absence an under-shade learner assembly space and a school hall for major events.

“Thanks to the incredible engagement of our learners, teachers, parents, community and extraordinary support of our sponsors, all of whom strongly believe in what we are doing, we have achieved a remarkable amount in just one year,” said Anwar Thomas, the school board chairperson.

!Aimablaagte Primary School's one-year anniversary serves as a testament to the power of education and collective effort in nurturing a generation of well-rounded individuals ready to take on the challenges of the world.