Erongo Region Hosts Key Consultations on Namibia’s Draft Teaching Profession Bill

Erongo Region Hosts Key Consultations on Namibia’s Draft Teaching Profession Bill. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), in partnership with UNICEF and UNESCO, convened the Erongo Regional Consultations on the Draft Teaching Profession Bill and its accompanying Regulations on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, at the Swakopmund Fisheries Auditorium.

Delivering the official address on behalf of Hon. Natalia /Goagoses, Governor of the Erongo Region, Dr. Mupenzeni Ntelamo, Chief Regional Officer, described the consultations as a defining moment in Namibia’s ongoing education reform. He said the Bill represents a significant step toward recognising teaching as a fully professionalised and regulated field.

“Professionalising the teaching profession will be a national reaffirmation of the social contract between teachers and the nation,” Dr. Ntelamo stated. “For decades, teachers have carried the responsibility of shaping our children’s minds, often with limited resources and recognition. This Bill will establish the legal and institutional framework that the profession has long awaited.”

Dr. Ntelamo further urged participants to view the consultation process as a national dialogue about the kind of educators Namibia requires. He posed questions that captured the spirit of the discussion: “What kind of teacher do we wish to place in front of our learners? What moral and professional compass should guide our classrooms? How do we ensure that teaching remains both a calling and a career of excellence?

He commended MEIYSAC, led by Honourable Dr. Sanet Steenkamp, for its commitment to inclusivity by ensuring consultations reach all 14 regions of Namibia. He added that the engagement reflects Namibia’s democratic values and will strengthen the foundation for a credible Teaching Profession Council.