By Staff Reporter

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Staff Reporter

THE regional consultations on the Draft Teaching Profession Bill and its accompanying regulations resumed this week, with the most recent session held in the Zambezi Region on Monday.

These consultations aim to raise awareness of the Draft Teaching Profession Bill, which will mandate the registration of all educators in Namibia. The session in Zambezi was attended by a range of stakeholders, including a representative from Triumphant College and members of traditional authorities.

Speaking at the consultations in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region, Norah Munembo, Deputy Director of Programmes and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the importance of the consultations, emphasising that it is designed to ensure the voices of teachers, principals, and department heads are fully considered.

Photos: Ministry of Education Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture

“Teachers, as the implementers of the Teaching Profession Bill, will directly impact its enactment. That is why we are here today, to make sure that the law and policy guiding the Bill are inclusive, practical, and carefully informed by the realities in our schools,” Munembo said.

Aune Victor, Education Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), also underscored the key objectives of the Bill, noting that it seeks to professionalise teaching in Namibia by establishing clear standards for teacher registration, qualifications, and conduct, while also promoting continuous professional development.

This comes after the Minister of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, outlined the possibility of introducing the bill in Namibia during her address to Parliament. She described the bill as a crucial step towards improving the quality of education in the country, as it will require all educators to register with the Teaching Profession Council of Namibia and hold a valid certificate of practice.

The minister highlighted that the bill has not yet been finalised, and that the ministry is conducting regional consultations to gather feedback and input from the public on its proposed introduction.

“These consultations, which are a crucial part of our democratic process, will provide an invaluable opportunity for all stakeholders — educators, parents, learners, community leaders, and members of the public — to share their input and contribute to the finalisation of a Bill that truly reflects our national aspirations for education,” Steenkamp added.