670 000 KIDS TO LOVE

Today more that 670 000 kids will start or return to schools all over Namibia.
Let us remember our education system, our schools, teachers and children in our prayers:

Pray for Dr David Namwandi, minister of education and his staff. Also pray for the leadership in the various regions and at all schools. They need God's wisdom now to address the enormous challenges of 2014. Lord, we pray that you will grant our educators wisdom as they deal with an ever-changing society. Help them to remember that every effort is an opportunity to change a life, to inspire, to energize, to bring out that special gift you have blessed to each and every one of us.

Pray for each and every teacher. Our children and our future are in their hands. We pray for each teacher and child who are believers, that they will carry the message of Jesus Christ  to school every day. Lord, we pray for the strength and endurance of our teachers. We pray for their patience. We pray that when results are not apparent, may they be reminded that it is your time table that counts, Lord. And may they not be discouraged.

There is a serious shortage of teachers, especially those who can teach Maths, English, Science and Setswana. Trust God to provide the right educators.

A serious shortage of class rooms, especially in the north. Tents will have to be pitched to accommodate the many scholars. Pray that building project will get on the way soon.

The Khomas and Erongo regions with the highest number of scholars - placing pressure on the infrastructure. Pray for godly solutions for ever challenge.

Christ came to live with us as a teacher.
He encouraged us with his wisdom, his truth, and his endurance.
He taught so that others may teach the world.

May those who will influence and shape the minds of our youth, 

continue to be ever mindful of the greatest Teacher of all.
Bill Swint - 2005

 

Prayer focus on Education

POLITICAL and educational experts on education are meeting in Windhoek at a five-day national conference with more than 1 000 participants. Education is in a crisis. There are currently 600 000 students in Namibia. A worrying trend is a high dropout rate among boys and that the national average in mathematics and English is below 50 per cent.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba said “As a nation we must join each other’s hands to find the most effective manner of overcoming the challenges within Namibia’s education sector."

The single most critical issue that could destroy the Namibian education system is the poor discipline and work ethics of teachers, which results in many pupils being short-changed by about 40 to 50 days of learning per year.

Please intercede for this critical situation. Call upon God for -

• Wisdom for the experts, that they find urgent practical answers to the challenges that education faces.
• The Minister of Education Abraham Iyambo to guide the Namibian education system out of this crisis.
• All regions where the majority of pupils are performing below basic standard.
• The Oshana and Omusati regions which showed a decrease in school enrollment.
• Against the unacceptable lack of discipline and work ethics of teachers.
• A return to biblical based education and practices in Namibia. This is the foundation on which the present leaders of Namibia were raise and educated should return to it as soon as possible.
  

Pray for the nation to join each other’s hands to pray and find the most effective manner of overcoming the challenges within Namibia’s education sector. Pray as the Holy Spirit guides.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds ...
Teach them to your children,
talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up ...
so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land
that the LORD swore to give your forefathers,
as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

NAMIBIA HAS A SEVERE SKILLS DEFICIT

Two labour experts this week painted a startling picture about the state of Namibia’s labour market, saying that most Namibians are unemployable.

The Global Competitiveness Index Report of 2009, said nearly 25 000 youth leave high school every year, but only 8 000 of those would gain formal employment, while a few others would go for further studies.

There are no jobs anymore to give to high school leavers, let alone those graduating from higher education training with qualifications that are not competitive. “Namibia has a severe skills deficit to the point of anorexia, we do not have the skills to sustain let alone grow,”

Both experts said the problem lies with the basic education sector. The total number of employed people in Namibia declined from 401 203 in 1997 to 385 329 in 2004 and further to 331 444 in 2008, according to the Government labour force survey in the subsequent years.

Add the annual figure of high school leavers, this becomes a worrying pattern. They called for political will, as well as for the labour movement to re-evaluate its role.

Article at http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=12344

Please spend time on your knees for this serious problem. Pray that God will intervene. Cry out for wisdom and that the newly appointed Minister of Education Minister for Education Abraham Iyambo (left in the photo) will tackle this serious problem. May God grant him and his team all they need to bring Namibia on the road to prosperity.

Preparing the young

We were to leave for Opuwo 750 km to the north west of Namibia on Friday morning to teach a parenting seminar. Just as I was writing the prayer request, I received a message that the visit has been postponed. It seems that schools in that part of the northern Kunene Region are on a program of eccelerated exams. Schools will then close earlier to allow repairs of sanitation. Poor sanitation facilities can cause the outbreak of cholera. Teachers and parents are therefore not available for the parenting seminar at this time.

Please pray for children all over Namibia who are writing exams. Keep the flooded areas of the north in your prayers. Also pray for the people of Opuwo. There are many who love the Lord and who are eager to be equipped in their walk with Him. Pray that the the church will play a major role in preparing the young for a lifelong relationship with God.(Some of our friends from Opuwo seen on the photo above).

Efundja causing a crisis!

Thousands of children in the north of Namibia are unable to go to school because of the seasonal floodwater (locally known as Efundja) and flooded pans (oshanas). 267 of the 811 schools in the Omusati-, Oshana-, Ohangwena- en Oshikoto- regions had to close.

Mr. André Struwig, of the Oshikoto Education Department painted a sad picture where deep waters made it impossible for children and teachers to safely reach their schools. Many schools will be closed for a "flood-holiday" and only re-open on April 6. Hundreds of homesteads have been flooded and villagers have been cut off from towns. Gravel roads and bridges have been damaged, pensioners are unable to get to pay points and the distribution of food aid has been brought to a halt in some areas.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba flew to the North to see how the heavy rains have affected people.

Sources: http://www.republikein.com.na & http://www.namibian.com.na The photo is from my collection from the 2008 flood.

Please pray for the effected people and areas and for:

• the protection of lives.
• wisdom how to address the challenges of the flood.
• flood aid to reach the victims.
• the necessary finances for the repair of the infrastructure.
• open hearts and hands to send help to the effected areas.
  

Schools Prayer Network Namibia

The Schools Prayer Network exists to stimulate and encourage committed Christian prayer for every school in Namibia, and to provide a means of communication and support for those concerned. You are invited to contact the National Coordinator of this ministry for more information. Imelda + 264-61-256 017

Again, you are encouraged to get the guide to pray for your school at http://www.kingdompraying.com or write to pray4namibia@gmail.com and I will forward this short but very helpful prayer guide as a Word document to your e-mail address.

Please pray for this ministry, that it will play the vital role necessary to mobilize pupils, parents and teaching staff to pray for their schools. Ask God that there will be a Christian difference through prayer at every school in our country.

Pray for my school!

I have found a powerful guide to help you intercede for your school. Parents, teachers, and students can use it to pray for their school. Churches can use it to intercede for the Namibian school systems around them. In order to cover a school in prayer, you must intercede for three groups: the students, the teachers, and the parents. You can use these prayers or develop your own from them. You are encouraged to get the guide from http://www.kingdompraying.com or you can ask and I will forward this short but very helpful prayer guide as a Word document to your e-mail address. Please write to me at pray4namibia@gmail.com

Here are three examples from the prayer guide:

Praying For The Students

Father, I ask for a powerful and deep work of the Holy Spirit among the students of my school (___________________). I plead that He will do a powerful and gracious work in their hearts. Holy Spirit, release Your power in this school and meet the particular spiritual needs of the students (John 16:7-11; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 42:1-2).

Praying For The Teachers

Father, I plead that the unsaved teachers of my school (___________________) would enter into a personal relationship with You through the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that they would turn from their sin to Jesus in genuine faith (John 3:15-18, 6:44; Acts 4:12, 17:30-31).

Praying For The Parents

Father, I plead that the parents of my school (___________________) will create an atmosphere at home that will help the children learn and grow. I pray that the parents will take the initiative to teach and train the children at home (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

May God bless you and your school as we all intercede!

Pray for Namibian Education

Schools will open in Namibia on the 14th of January 2009. The photo shows our friend Miss Elfrieda and her 2008 graduates from the ABC Pre-School. Some of them, with thousands all over the country will now enter Pre-Primary. Namibia have a school population of about 600 000 students.

Let's pray for all Christians working in Education in Namibia as they help to prepare our children for the future. Here is a suggested prayer:

Lord of all things, we thank You for the women and men You have called to work in education. Bless their hearts with Your love, joy and peace. Season their words with Your patience, kindness and goodness. Fill their minds with Your faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When they respond to a broken-hearted child show them how to be big-hearted. When they reach out to a rebellious teen remind them to be obedient to You. When they advise a lonely mature student help them to be Christ Jesus to them. When they meet with an angry parent let them see a child of God. When they give advice to a discouraged colleague give them helpful and encouraging words. When they speak to visitors and strangers grant them the gift of hospitality. Amen.

Source: http://www.schoolsprayernetwork.org.uk