Staff Reporter
TODAY is World Teachers’ Day, with Namibia joining countries around the world in recognising the contribution of teachers and highlighting the importance of protecting and advancing the teaching profession.
Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp said Namibia stands with its teachers and must continue to invest in their professional development, dignity and well-being.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures”, marks 60 years since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
Steenkamp said the anniversary was an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of teachers and called for greater support for the profession.
“To stand with teachers is not only to applaud them once a year. It is really to value the knowledge that our teachers bring, but also to listen to your voice, to invest in your growth and to safeguard your dignity in every classroom, every region, on a daily basis,” she said.
Namibia currently has 36,336 teachers teaching more than 913,000 learners across 14 regions and 2,081 schools, according to Steenkamp.
She said the teaching force has grown by more than 5,000 teachers since 2019, while more than nine in every 10 primary and secondary school teachers are now qualified to teach.
Steenkamp acknowledged that teachers continue to face challenges, including shortages of specialised teachers, inadequate housing and infrastructure in some rural areas, limited electricity and connectivity, large classes and heavy workloads.
She said the ministry’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030 places excellence in teaching and learning at its centre, with a commitment to further investment in teacher education and continuous professional development.
The ministry also plans to strengthen mentorship and peer-to-peer coaching, while improving support and incentives for teachers in scarce-subject areas and rural postings, including housing and transport.
Steenkamp said work towards establishing a regulatory body for the teaching profession was also important to ensure that teaching is protected and respected as a profession.
“Our goal by 2030 is clear. Every learner taught by a qualified teacher,” she said.
She emphasised that teachers’ voices, expressed through schools, unions and professional associations, remain important in shaping education policy and decisions.
Steenkamp also urged teachers to prioritise their own well-being, support one another and continue learning while encouraging parents, communities and education partners to work alongside teachers.
“To every teacher out there, please do not underestimate the power you hold. A kind word from you can change a child’s direction. A patient explanation can open a whole new world,” she said.
She thanked teachers for their commitment to educating Namibia’s children and wished them a happy World Teachers’ Day.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Flickr
