Shaping futures through numbers
Bank Windhoek, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the African Leadership Institute (ALI), hosted its first 2026 Grade 8 and 9 Mathematics teachers’ workshop at Rock Lodge outside Okahandja last week.
The workshop is part of an ongoing intervention aimed at strengthening Mathematics competency and personal development among Junior Secondary teachers across Namibia. Thirty-nine teachers attended, representing the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions.
Speaking at the event, Bank Windhoek’s Jacquiline Pack emphasised the critical role educators play in shaping Namibia’s future. “At Bank Windhoek, we believe that building a strong nation begins in the classroom,” she said, noting that Mathematics remains essential in preparing learners for a rapidly changing world.
Rauna Shuungula, Chief Education Officer for Science and Mathematics at the ministry, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving national education outcomes and expressed appreciation for the Bank’s continued support. She also acknowledged ALI’s contribution in integrating transformative soft skills sessions into the programme.
Investing in Mathematics
The initiative builds on the Bank’s successful support of the 2023 Grade 4 Mathematics training programme, where targeted interventions led to measurable improvements in learning outcomes. That success prompted the expansion to Junior Secondary level in collaboration with the ministry and ALI.
Over the past two years, nearly 200 Mathematics teachers have participated in training designed to strengthen subject knowledge, assessment practices, classroom management and leadership skills, while also enhancing learner engagement and personal development.
Explaining the bank’s involvement, Pack said Mathematics literacy is not merely an academic requirement but a vital life skill. “If we want to grow a strong, inclusive economy, we must equip learners, through their teachers, with the confidence and problem-solving skills that Mathematics develops,” she said, describing the programme as a long-term investment in Namibia’s future.
Participating teachers said the initiative empowered them both personally and professionally, motivating them to use Mathematics as a tool for developing life skills among learners.
The February workshop marks the fifth intervention since the programme’s inception. Two additional workshops are planned for 2026, further extending its reach as government and private sector partners continue working to improve Mathematics education nationwide.
