Etuna Simon to drive Eman education agenda

Education specialist Dr Etuna Simon has joined the Emerging Mining Association of Namibia (Eman) to help small-scale miners and young people access training.

The position is voluntary and unpaid, allowing her to contribute her educational expertise while continuing her role as head of the centre for curriculum development and innovation at Welwitschia University, which she joined on 1 April.

“The impact I would value most is seeing people use what they have learned to make better decisions and improve their livelihoods,” she told Careers.

Simon’s academic background includes a bachelor of education in biology and physical education, completed at the University of Namibia in 2008, a master of education in science education, specialising in educational technology, in 2014, and a PhD in mathematics, science and technology education from the University of Pretoria in 2019.

Her career has included teaching at Windhoek Technical High School from May 2008 to June 2014, followed by student support and job placement roles at the University of Namibia. She later worked as a lecturer at the institution from January 2018 to June 2023 before joining CHRUNA Academy as a private consultant in July 2023, a position she held until December 2025.

Simon said her motivation for joining the mining association was the opportunity to connect learning with practical opportunities for people to improve their livelihoods.

“I believe educational expertise can make a contribution beyond the classroom,” she said.

Priorities

In her new role, she will guide Eman's education and skills development activities, identify learning needs, support the development of relevant courses and workshops, and build relationships with educational institutions and industry practitioners.

Her initial priorities include consulting Eman members to understand their training needs and developing a practical education plan. Potential training areas include mineral awareness, occupational health and safety, environmental responsibility, basic business management and digital literacy.

Youth engagement will also be central to her work, particularly in helping young Namibians understand the technical, environmental, business and research career opportunities connected to mining.

Simon acknowledges that access to training, limited resources and differing educational backgrounds may present challenges. She plans to address these through needs assessments, practical learning approaches and partnerships.

Looking ahead, she hopes to establish sustainable pathways through which small-scale miners, young people and communities can access relevant education and develop their skills.