Namibia Priorities Foundational Learning

Poverty remains one of the most pressing social and economic challenges globally, affecting millions of people who lack access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, healthcare and education. It is not only defined by low income but also by limited opportunities to improve living conditions and achieve sustainable livelihoods. In many communities, poverty perpetuates cycles of inequality, leaving vulnerable groups, especially women and children who are at higher risk of malnutrition, poor health and limited educational fulfillment. For countries to address poverty, it requires a multidimensional approach that combines economic growth, social protection and inclusive policies to ensure equitable development.

Speaking at the launch of the African Union (AU) campaign, End Learning Poverty for All in Africa, the Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp noted that Namibia has recorded 927,647 learners in February this year with near gender parity, as girls outnumbered boys by just 3,903. While access to education is largely equal, the teaching workforce shows an imbalance, with only 31.3% of the 34,325 teachers being male. “Our mission is rooted in equitable access, cultural preservation, and innovation through inclusive programming and strong partnerships” she said.

Steenkamp noted that Namibia’s education system is built on four enduring pillars such as access, equity, quality, and democracy. “Thanks to initiatives like the primary and secondary education grants, EGRA, EGMA, Right Start and Jolly Phonics Enterprise, we are close to universal access. But access alone is not enough. The real challenge before us is learning. Repetition rates, as reported by the Education Management Information System (EMIS) 2023, 17.2% in Grade 1, 19% in Grade 4, and 21.9% in Grade 8 signal that many of our learners are in school but not learning effectively”, she added.