Teaching Profession Bill: Is Namibia on the Right Path?
Public consultations on the Teaching Profession Bill kicked off on 15 September 2025 in the Khomas Region and are set to conclude on 17 October. This milestone follows recommendations made at the 2022 National Education Conference.
The bill seeks to establish the Teaching Profession Council of Namibia, which will oversee the mandatory registration and licensing of all teachers, continuous professional development, regulation of teacher training institutions, and, where necessary, disciplinary measures. These reforms aim to elevate teaching to a respected and accountable profession in Namibia.
Namibia still grapples with wide educational disparities, particularly in rural and marginalised areas where access to quality teaching remains uneven. The apartheid legacy left the education system fragmented, limiting opportunities for many Namibians to receive proper schooling or training.
After independence, the Integrated Teacher Training Programme (ITTP) laid the foundation for a new teacher education system that emphasised learner-centred approaches, democracy, and nation-building. The Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD), introduced in the 1990s and phased out in 2012, is still held by many teachers today. Yet, questions linger about whether this qualification adequately prepares teachers for the demands of 21st-century classrooms.
As teaching qualifications evolve, professionalising the sector has become critical. Not only would this raise education standards locally, it would also improve the global competitiveness and mobility of Namibian teachers, opening opportunities in countries such as South Africa and Botswana. This could, in turn, help address the challenge of unemployed teachers within Namibia.
The bill also places Namibia firmly within global and regional education agendas. It supports Sustainable Development Goal 4 - ensuring inclusive, equitable, quality education for all. Since 2015, Namibia has been a member of the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), a continental body that advances the regulation of teaching. The proposed legislation further aligns with African Union frameworks, including the Continental Framework of Standards and Competences for the Teaching Profession, the Continental Teacher Qualification Framework, and the Continental Guidelines for the Teaching Profession.
Embracing the future together
The Teaching Profession Bill signals that Namibia is on the right track. Teachers should understand that this initiative is designed in the best interests of their learners, while giving parents confidence that their children are taught by qualified, accountable, and registered professionals.
The proposed Teaching Profession Council will mirror the credibility and authority of other professional bodies, such as the Law Society of Namibia (LSN), the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA), the Engineering Professions Association of Namibia (EPA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN).
I encourage all educators to engage actively in the consultative process and contribute constructively to shaping this bill. Together with parents, let us seize this opportunity to uplift the teaching profession and secure a brighter future for Namibia’s children.
* Haushiku Kemba is parent and resident of Kagcuva village. He can be reached at [email protected]
The bill seeks to establish the Teaching Profession Council of Namibia, which will oversee the mandatory registration and licensing of all teachers, continuous professional development, regulation of teacher training institutions, and, where necessary, disciplinary measures. These reforms aim to elevate teaching to a respected and accountable profession in Namibia.
Namibia still grapples with wide educational disparities, particularly in rural and marginalised areas where access to quality teaching remains uneven. The apartheid legacy left the education system fragmented, limiting opportunities for many Namibians to receive proper schooling or training.
After independence, the Integrated Teacher Training Programme (ITTP) laid the foundation for a new teacher education system that emphasised learner-centred approaches, democracy, and nation-building. The Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD), introduced in the 1990s and phased out in 2012, is still held by many teachers today. Yet, questions linger about whether this qualification adequately prepares teachers for the demands of 21st-century classrooms.
As teaching qualifications evolve, professionalising the sector has become critical. Not only would this raise education standards locally, it would also improve the global competitiveness and mobility of Namibian teachers, opening opportunities in countries such as South Africa and Botswana. This could, in turn, help address the challenge of unemployed teachers within Namibia.
The bill also places Namibia firmly within global and regional education agendas. It supports Sustainable Development Goal 4 - ensuring inclusive, equitable, quality education for all. Since 2015, Namibia has been a member of the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), a continental body that advances the regulation of teaching. The proposed legislation further aligns with African Union frameworks, including the Continental Framework of Standards and Competences for the Teaching Profession, the Continental Teacher Qualification Framework, and the Continental Guidelines for the Teaching Profession.
Embracing the future together
The Teaching Profession Bill signals that Namibia is on the right track. Teachers should understand that this initiative is designed in the best interests of their learners, while giving parents confidence that their children are taught by qualified, accountable, and registered professionals.
The proposed Teaching Profession Council will mirror the credibility and authority of other professional bodies, such as the Law Society of Namibia (LSN), the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA), the Engineering Professions Association of Namibia (EPA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN).
I encourage all educators to engage actively in the consultative process and contribute constructively to shaping this bill. Together with parents, let us seize this opportunity to uplift the teaching profession and secure a brighter future for Namibia’s children.
* Haushiku Kemba is parent and resident of Kagcuva village. He can be reached at [email protected]
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