13 450 learners drop out of school in 2025

Girls accounted for more than half of the 13 450 learners who dropped out of Namibian schools in 2025, with Ohangwena, Kavango East and Kavango West recording the highest rates.

Figures shared by the education ministry show that 6 884 girls (51.1%) left school compared to 6 576 boys (48.9%), out of a total of 913 223 enrolled learners nationwide in 2025.

Out of the total enrolment of 913 223 learners in 2025, the 13 450 who left school amounted to a 1.47% dropout rate, the ministry said.

The dropout numbers are inclusive of both state and private schools, but dropouts in private schools were lower, the ministry noted.

Knox Otto Imbuwa, the ministry’s deputy executive director for finance and administration, said that out of the total national enrolment for the 2025 academic year, 848 159 learners were enrolled in state schools, while 65 064 went to private schools.

Speaking during an engagement with the parliamentary standing committee on education, he said out of the 848 159 learners enrolled in state schools, 422 244 (49%) were boys and 425 915 (50.2%) were girls.

Out of 65 064 enrolled at private schools, 31 777 (50.4%) were girls and 32 287, or 49.6%, were boys.

Imbuwa highlighted that the regions with the highest dropout rates last year include Ohangwena (1 758), Kavango East (1 616), and Kavango West (1 405), while regions with the lowest dropout rates include //Kharas (332) and Oshana (379).

Education statistics for 2024 highlight that school dropouts remain a challenge across Namibia, with thousands of learners leaving the education system prematurely.

Ohangwena recorded the highest number of dropouts in 2024, at 1 741 learners, followed by Kavango East (1 562), Kunene (1 385) and Oshikoto (1 347).

Other regions with notable figures include Omaheke (1 291) and Kavango West (1 271).

Khomas reported 990 dropouts, while lower totals were recorded in Hardap (568), Erongo (484) and //Kharas (310).

Key drivers

Imbuwa said the dropout rates reflect a complex mix of socio-economic, infrastructural and policy-related challenges.

“There is a myriad of issues… it is not only one factor," contributing to learners leaving school, he said.

He said poverty, geographic barriers and systemic weaknesses are among the factors driving learners out of the education system.

He highlighted menstrual health as a key concern, noting that about 14% of girls miss school due to a lack of sanitary products, despite government interventions to support vulnerable learners.

Water and sanitation challenges, particularly in remote schools, as well as dilapidated infrastructure, continue to affect learning conditions.

Imbuwa warned that poor sanitation facilities are “not conducive for the girl child", contributing to absenteeism and dropouts.

Learner pregnancy remains a nationwide challenge. While policy allows pregnant learners to continue attending school until they give birth, some schools still send them home prematurely.

Hunger, desperation

Poverty continues to drive dropout rates, with many learners unable to access regular meals.

The national school feeding programme, which mainly supports primary school learners, does not extend to secondary schools, leaving many vulnerable after transition.

“We have children that are not able to have meals,” Imbuwa said, adding that the government is exploring ways to extend feeding support to the secondary level despite cost constraints.

Infrastructure deficits also expose learners to long and unsafe journeys, particularly in regions such as Zambezi and Kunene. He cited a recent incident in Zambezi where a learner was fatally struck by a vehicle while travelling early to school.

Mental health support remains limited, with a severe shortage of life skills teachers. “The ratio is about one teacher for plus-minus 1 000 learners,” Imbuwa said, noting the strain on available personnel.

Bring them back

Deputy executive director for schools/formal education, Edda Bohn, said dropout cases are closely linked to how data is captured and followed up, with schools already attempting to bring learners back through outreach programmes.

“The issue of dropouts – what happens to learners – begins with how we capture data on the reasons for leaving school,” she said.

“We already collect this information, and schools are making efforts to bring learners back," she noted.

In addition, the ministry conducts outreach initiatives, such as admission campaigns, to encourage learners to return to school, Bohn explained.

Assess the risks early

Two months ago, education minister Sanet Steenkamp raised alarm over rising school dropout levels, describing the situation as “deeply worrying” and calling for urgent, coordinated action to keep learners in school.

Steenkamp made the remarks during the regional education stakeholders’ conference and academic year launch, where she urged schools, parents, traditional leaders and social services to work together to address the growing number of learners leaving school before completing basic education.

She reminded communities that the Namibian Constitution and the Basic Education Act of 2020 make it compulsory for children to remain in school until they complete basic education or reach the age of 16.

Despite this legal requirement, many learners continue to drop out due to poverty, teenage pregnancy, lack of parental support, long distances to schools, hostel challenges and behavioural issues.

Education leaders at the conference stressed the need for schools to strengthen early warning systems to identify learners at risk of dropping out.

“The quality of an education system can not exceed the quality of its teachers and school leaders,” Steenkamp said.

Addressing delegates at the Otjozondjupa education conference in February, Steenkamp also expressed concern over the high dropout figures and cautioned education officials against making assumptions about the causes without relying on accurate data.

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