Scholarships to support German language teaching
The German Embassy has allocated a grant of N$145 000 to support the training of teachers focusing on the subject of German.Namibia currently faces a shortage of qualified and experienced German teachers, primarily due to low social prestige and inadequate remuneration within the profession. Consequently, fewer individuals aspire to become teachers, while others opt for more financially rewarding careers, leading to a further decline in the number of German teachers.
Furthermore, a significant number of teachers who began their careers before 1980 are now retiring, exacerbating the shortage of German-speaking or indigenous professionals available to fill vacancies at the Curriculum Planning Department and the University of Namibia.
To address this issue, the Association of German School Societies in Namibia (AGDS) has been actively recruiting school graduates to pursue careers in teaching. Each year, the AGDS awards scholarships to student teachers as part of their efforts. These scholarships cover the recipients' registration and tuition fees, in addition to providing a living allowance of N$9,000 every six months. Eligible applicants may be enrolled at either the University of Namibia or South African universities.
To ensure commitment to the teaching profession, the AGDS enters into a contractual agreement with each scholarship recipient. The recipient agrees to teach at a school affiliated with the AGDS through its school association for a period equivalent to the duration of the scholarship received.
The German Embassy's sponsorship contributes to the AGDS's scholarship program by funding three of these scholarships. This sponsorship aims to support the promotion of the German language and the teaching profession in Namibia, addressing the shortage of qualified German teachers and fostering the development of language education in the country.