Celebrating 20 years of Waldorf school learning in Windhoek
Last week the Waldorf School in Windhoek celebrated not only its 20th anniversary but the ten-year reunion of the first cohort of matriculants at the school.
Ester Kamati
On 16 October, the teachers, learners, alumnae and founders of the Waldorf School celebrated a milestone with 20 years of learner-centred education in Windhoek, whilst celebrating 100 years of Waldorf learning globally.
A founding parent of the Waldorf School in Windhoek, Vera Freyer, reflected on the establishment of the school, which has a non-conforming educational system.
She mentioned that the key ingredients that have led to the school’s success include motivation, courage, conviction, vision, teamwork, good connections and perseverance.
She added that contrary to popular belief, money is not the key factor. “If you have the courage and the conviction that what you are doing is good, and it’s desired, and it’s right, you will find the money to support that.”
The founding group who had their children enrolled in the school had seen how the pupils were guided in a manner that is filled with “imagination and fun”. In the year 2000, the school opened to accommodate 40 learners from grade one to four after a German Waldorf school offered to assist in establishing the Waldorf School in Windhoek.
Freyer reflected on the process of building this school without any builders or architects. The secondary school opened in January 2004, inaugurated by the then minister of education, Nangolo Mbumba. Ten years ago, the first group wrote their NSSC exams at the school, which marked a milestone for the institution.
“Education will always remain the catalyst or social advancement,” said Vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba at the event hosted at Waldorf School.
“Remember that there exists a form of power and intelligence that represents your untapped human potential writing to be ignited, explored and harnessed,” he told the learners.
He reminded them that most jobs may become redundant and a new shift in thinking will be required for the skillset of the future.
“We are urged to think big, shoot for the stars as we transform this Namibia into one that we can be proud of and one we can call our home”.
He further congratulated the teachers on their continuous dedication and hard work to provide quality education to the learners over the years.
“I see no reason why the Waldorf School will not continue to inspire the future”.
He concluded by appreciating the school for using the Waldorf curriculum to develop the human capital needed by the country.
J?rgen Kaplan, the leader of the Waldorf School, appreciated the learners as the “precious valuables” of the school and the future; parents as the providers of these valuables and teachers as their trainers. He said the Waldorf education has “the tool in its hand to make the human being a complete entity” by providing not only knowledge but the technical know-how along with practice.
On 16 October, the teachers, learners, alumnae and founders of the Waldorf School celebrated a milestone with 20 years of learner-centred education in Windhoek, whilst celebrating 100 years of Waldorf learning globally.
A founding parent of the Waldorf School in Windhoek, Vera Freyer, reflected on the establishment of the school, which has a non-conforming educational system.
She mentioned that the key ingredients that have led to the school’s success include motivation, courage, conviction, vision, teamwork, good connections and perseverance.
She added that contrary to popular belief, money is not the key factor. “If you have the courage and the conviction that what you are doing is good, and it’s desired, and it’s right, you will find the money to support that.”
The founding group who had their children enrolled in the school had seen how the pupils were guided in a manner that is filled with “imagination and fun”. In the year 2000, the school opened to accommodate 40 learners from grade one to four after a German Waldorf school offered to assist in establishing the Waldorf School in Windhoek.
Freyer reflected on the process of building this school without any builders or architects. The secondary school opened in January 2004, inaugurated by the then minister of education, Nangolo Mbumba. Ten years ago, the first group wrote their NSSC exams at the school, which marked a milestone for the institution.
“Education will always remain the catalyst or social advancement,” said Vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba at the event hosted at Waldorf School.
“Remember that there exists a form of power and intelligence that represents your untapped human potential writing to be ignited, explored and harnessed,” he told the learners.
He reminded them that most jobs may become redundant and a new shift in thinking will be required for the skillset of the future.
“We are urged to think big, shoot for the stars as we transform this Namibia into one that we can be proud of and one we can call our home”.
He further congratulated the teachers on their continuous dedication and hard work to provide quality education to the learners over the years.
“I see no reason why the Waldorf School will not continue to inspire the future”.
He concluded by appreciating the school for using the Waldorf curriculum to develop the human capital needed by the country.
J?rgen Kaplan, the leader of the Waldorf School, appreciated the learners as the “precious valuables” of the school and the future; parents as the providers of these valuables and teachers as their trainers. He said the Waldorf education has “the tool in its hand to make the human being a complete entity” by providing not only knowledge but the technical know-how along with practice.
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