The private business community of Namibia has pledge a staggering N$4,4 million to go to the educational strategic plan (ETSIP) of the education ministry over the next five years. At a conference on Thursday in a Windhoek hotel First National Bank MD Reinhold Vekuii Rukoro pledged N$1,5 million and the Pupkewitz Group together with Mr Harold Pupkewitz in his personal capacity N$1,3 million. One million will come from supply companies of the Pupkewitz Group in South Africa; N$ 250,000 from the group and N$ 50,000 from private funds of Mr Pupkewitz himself, the 90-year old veteran businessman announced.

The United Africa group pledged N$ 1 million over five years and NamWater N$ 80,000. Several other local companies pledged smaller amounts but the total of all business pledges came to N$4,4. By 11h00 on Thursday a total of N$177 million was pledged, the larger amounts by the United Nations (N$ 75 million) and the US government (N$ 97 million) until 2010. Sweden will donate N$ 25 million. One observer noted that before the end of the conference might have succeeded to raise N$ 200 million.

The Namibian government is revamping its education sector over the next decade to improve teacher qualification and to prepare pupils better for the labour market.

On Wednesday president Pohamba, who opened the conference reiterated that the government would increase its won budgetary allocation each year to achieve the reform. Over N$20 billion are needed until 2011. The government will take a loan of US$ 30 million from the World Bank to bridge the financial gap.

Photo: President Hifikepunye Pohamba had invited many ministers to the Conference. Here he greets Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba