UNESCO Assistant Director General for Education, Qian Tang says the agency’s Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) is one of the most important and largest networks spreading and promoting UNESCO values. ASPnet represents a global network of more than 11 000 registered member schools in 181 countries, contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Membership is open to all public and private schools and teacher training institutions and Namibia has 27 schools participating in the network. Tang says education should not only be about being able to read and write but should be able to create responsible citizens. He said school children should grow up in becoming responsible citizens and whenever they are confronted by cultural, religious or social differences they are able to talk about it and not go to war over it. Tang says financial constraints had always hampered the expansion of the network but generous funding support from East Asian countries, South Korea, Japan and China now makes it possible to reach out. Namibia’s National Coordinator of UNESCO, Reverend Rod April says activities within the southern African region will be elevated in a joint fashion with the increased funding support.