Our children deserve better – president
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged swift action to tackle the continent’s education crisis and ensure no child is left behind.
Speaking at the official launch of Namibia’s participation in the African Union’s ‘End Learning Poverty for All in Africa’ campaign last week in Outjo, the president described the campaign as a national priority that must transform how African nations invest in early learning.
“Foundational learning is the bedrock of personal dignity and national development,” she said. “No society can flourish when its youngest cannot grasp the basic tools of literacy and numeracy. Our children deserve better – and we must deliver.”
Namibia has been selected as one of 25 priority countries under phase one of the AU initiative. Nandi-Ndaitwah said this recognition brings both honour and responsibility.
“We accept this with resolve, determination and urgency. Learning poverty is not just an education challenge, it is an African emergency.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Africa’s vast mineral wealth and young population as key advantages that poor educational outcomes must not undermine.
“We are too few to be poor. Our real challenge is underdevelopment, compounded by high illiteracy. The fact that millions of African children cannot read or understand a simple text by age ten is deeply concerning,” she added.
Transform lives
Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016–2025), and Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.
“These are not abstract declarations,” she said. “They are tools through which we must transform our people’s realities. Foundational learning must be viewed as a national development priority.”
She stressed that more visible infrastructure projects must not overshadow education. “There is no greater infrastructure than the human mind. Our newly launched National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) places education at the centre of our socio-economic agenda.”
Budget commitments
Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored Namibia’s strong financial commitment to education, with N$24.8 billion, representing 23.4% of the national budget and 8.9% of GDP, allocated to the education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture ministry.
Over N$12 billion annually will go to pre-primary and primary education under the medium-term expenditure framework. "Most of this goes to our teachers, who are the backbone of foundational learning," she added.
The president also called for an education system that is inclusive, equitable and accessible. “Special attention must be given to learners with disabilities, children in remote areas, and those whose first language is not the medium of instruction,” she said. “No African child should be learning in a dilapidated structure without basic amenities in 2025.”
She added that success must be data-driven and measurable. “We must track progress rigorously. No child should fail to learn because we failed to plan or prioritise.”
Speaking at the official launch of Namibia’s participation in the African Union’s ‘End Learning Poverty for All in Africa’ campaign last week in Outjo, the president described the campaign as a national priority that must transform how African nations invest in early learning.
“Foundational learning is the bedrock of personal dignity and national development,” she said. “No society can flourish when its youngest cannot grasp the basic tools of literacy and numeracy. Our children deserve better – and we must deliver.”
Namibia has been selected as one of 25 priority countries under phase one of the AU initiative. Nandi-Ndaitwah said this recognition brings both honour and responsibility.
“We accept this with resolve, determination and urgency. Learning poverty is not just an education challenge, it is an African emergency.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Africa’s vast mineral wealth and young population as key advantages that poor educational outcomes must not undermine.
“We are too few to be poor. Our real challenge is underdevelopment, compounded by high illiteracy. The fact that millions of African children cannot read or understand a simple text by age ten is deeply concerning,” she added.
Transform lives
Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016–2025), and Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.
“These are not abstract declarations,” she said. “They are tools through which we must transform our people’s realities. Foundational learning must be viewed as a national development priority.”
She stressed that more visible infrastructure projects must not overshadow education. “There is no greater infrastructure than the human mind. Our newly launched National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) places education at the centre of our socio-economic agenda.”
Budget commitments
Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored Namibia’s strong financial commitment to education, with N$24.8 billion, representing 23.4% of the national budget and 8.9% of GDP, allocated to the education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture ministry.
Over N$12 billion annually will go to pre-primary and primary education under the medium-term expenditure framework. "Most of this goes to our teachers, who are the backbone of foundational learning," she added.
The president also called for an education system that is inclusive, equitable and accessible. “Special attention must be given to learners with disabilities, children in remote areas, and those whose first language is not the medium of instruction,” she said. “No African child should be learning in a dilapidated structure without basic amenities in 2025.”
She added that success must be data-driven and measurable. “We must track progress rigorously. No child should fail to learn because we failed to plan or prioritise.”
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