Staff Reporter
THE growing gap between boys and girls in Namibia’s education system has emerged as a key concern behind the establishment of the Denga Epaphras Ndaitwah (DEN) Impact Foundation, with new research highlighting declining participation and academic outcomes among boys.
The findings were presented by University of Namibia researcher Dr Faustina Kashinauua Neshila at the official launch of First Gentleman retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah’s foundation at Droombos in Windhoek.
Neshila’s presentation highlighted a widening disparity in education, with girls outnumbering boys in enrolment from Grade 6 through Grade 12, while boys experience higher repetition and school-leaving rates.
The disparity also extends to tertiary education. According to figures presented at the event, women accounted for 64.6% of University of Namibia graduates in 2026, compared with 35.4% of men.
At the Namibia University of Science and Technology, women accounted for 59.9% of graduates, compared with 40.1% of men, while women represented 73.3% of graduates at the International University of Management, compared with 26.7% of men.
Ndaitwah said the figures demonstrated the need for targeted interventions to address the challenges affecting boys and young men.
“Supporting the boy child is not about choosing boys over girls,” he said, emphasising that the foundation’s focus was intended to complement, rather than undermine, progress made in supporting girls.
He said the challenges facing boys could not be addressed through emotion alone and called for evidence-based interventions that examine the root causes of disengagement and underachievement.
The foundation will focus on education, sport, agriculture and vocational and technical training, alongside mentorship and support programmes.
Ndaitwah said consultations conducted by his office had also highlighted the importance of positive masculinity, built around responsibility, empathy, respect, service, leadership, integrity and accountability.
Prime Minister Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare said Namibia had made significant progress in advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls, but warned that growing challenges affecting boys could no longer be ignored.
Ngurare also highlighted President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s contribution to advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls, noting that she was the first minister of the Department of Women Affairs, established in 2000.
He said the progress made in promoting gender equality deserved recognition and should continue, while efforts to address challenges facing boys were pursued alongside, rather than at the expense of, initiatives supporting girls.
He said addressing the challenges facing boys should not be viewed as a competition between boys and girls.
“Helping boys overcome these modern obstacles does not mean taking opportunities away from girls,” Ngurare said.
He called for government, parents, traditional leaders, faith communities, businesses and other stakeholders to work together to provide boys with mentorship, counselling, education, sports and employment opportunities.
Ngurare said the foundation would support the broader national development agenda by helping young Namibians become skilled, disciplined and productive members of society.
He urged businesses and industries to open opportunities for mentorship, apprenticeships and employment for young men.
The DEN Impact Foundation has adopted a 2026–2030 strategic plan and will operate as an independent non-profit organisation working with government and other partners.
At the launch, Ngurare officially declared the foundation operational and called on stakeholders to contribute to its programmes.
Photo: Gen Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah (Facebook)
