Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Education is currently conducting regional engagements to raise awareness about the Draft Teaching Profession Bill and its accompanying regulations — a proposed law that will mandate the registration of all educators in Namibia.
“This legislative initiative, which my Ministry has diligently prepared, represents a pivotal step towards enhancing the quality and standing of education in Namibia, and by extension, the prosperity of our youth and the strength of our society,” said the Minister of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, while addressing Parliament last week.
She explained that the Teaching Profession Bill will require all educators to be registered with the Teaching Profession Council of Namibia and to hold a valid certificate of practice. She added that this measure is designed to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals teach in both public and private educational institutions.
In addition, the Bill will empower the Council to guide the professional conduct of all registered educators, promoting high-quality education, training, and learning, while fostering a culture of professional excellence.
“The Bill will ensure that courses and training programmes offered by educational institutions are aligned and streamlined. This alignment will promote uniformity and quality across all levels of basic and tertiary education, with the Council having the authority to approve and review teacher training curricula and programmes prior to their accreditation by the National Council for Higher Education,” she added.
The Minister emphasised that the Bill has not yet been finalised, and the Ministry is therefore undertaking regional engagements in all regions to discuss the draft. These engagements began in Keetmanshoop, //Kharas Region, on Monday, 15 September 2025, and will conclude in the Khomas Region on 17 October 2025. She thus urged the public to engage constructively with the Draft Bill.
“These consultations, which are a crucial part of our democratic process, will provide an invaluable opportunity for all stakeholders — educators, parents, learners, community leaders, and members of the public — to share their input and contribute to the finalisation of a Bill that truly reflects our national aspirations for education,” Steenkamp added.
Photo: Ministry of Education Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture
