The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) donated 1 000 copies of a book worth N$300 000 to the education ministry on Monday.
The 700-page book, titled ‘A Guide to the Namibian Economy, 5th Edition’, by well-known economist Robin Sherbourne, will be made available in schools and public libraries across the country through the Directorate of Namibia Library and Archives Service.
Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp described the book as a valuable resource for upskilling and reskilling for learners in commerce-related fields at secondary school level around the country.
She said this is a significant contribution and a profound gesture that will greatly enhance the ministry’s efforts to promote the culture of reading, and ensure equitable access to knowledge and information for lifelong learning in schools.
“The collections of donated books will create a platform that fosters curiosity, critical thinking and creativity among Namibian learners and the societal village at large.
It will further unlock debates in classrooms, initiate insightful discussions, and promote further research towards our country’s economic stimulations,” she added.
Graham Hopwood – the IPPR executive director, writer and renowned researcher on economic-related matters – said this is the fifth edition of the book.
Sherbourne is also a former director of the IPPR.
This is by far the biggest and weightiest of the editions published so far, he noted. He added that the donation aims to support the educational development of the youth, and provide them with valuable insights into the Namibian economy.
In so doing, the donation will build the knowledge-based economy that is envisaged in Vision 2030, the Harambee plans and the national development plans.
Hopwood noted that Sherbourne has been analysing and writing about the Namibian economy since the early 1990s, and this book is very much the product of his close engagement with the issues over the past 30 years.
Although it is a large volume, it is written and presented in a style that is highly readable and relevant.
This is not a dry and dusty economics tome. It is, without doubt, the most detailed and accessible book on the Namibian economy.
“Today, we are donating 1 000 copies of the book to the education ministry so that they can be made available in public libraries and secondary school libraries across the nation. We believe they will be a tremendous resource for learners and students who are dealing with economic and commerce-related topics,” he said.
“The book has been selling for N$300, which means the market value of today’s donation is N$300 000. In fact, it is more because of the
financial support of B2 Gold, which enabled the book to be sold at N$300 or N$150 to registered students. If you wanted to buy this kind of book
in a commercial bookstore, it would probably be nearer to a N$1 000 dollars per copy,” he said.