Keetmanshoop Hosts First Regional Consultation on Draft Teaching Profession Bill

Keetmanshoop Hosts First Regional Consultation on Draft Teaching Profession BBill. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), in collaboration with UNICEF and UNESCO, today launched the first regional consultation on the Draft Teaching Profession Bill and its Regulations. The session, held at the Schützenhaus Hotel, marks the beginning of a nationwide consultation process that will run from 15 September to 17 October 2025.

The consultations will take place across all 14 regions, bringing together teachers, unions, parents, learners, and community stakeholders. Participants will provide input on the draft regulations that will guide the implementation of the Teaching Profession Bill.

The program features presentations on legislative frameworks, detailed discussions on the draft regulations, and interactive sessions. These focus on teacher registration, professional ethics, training requirements, and disciplinary procedures. The initiative aims to gather views from diverse stakeholders to ensure the regulations are comprehensive and inclusive.

Mr. Nicolaas Eiman, MEIYSAC Regional Director of the //Karas Region, addressed participants, emphasizing that the Teaching Profession Bill originates from community perspectives. He explained that the Bill seeks to professionalise the teaching sector from Early Childhood Development through to tertiary education, with the primary goal of safeguarding learners and students.

Eiman stressed that the Bill is not designed to target teachers, lecturers, or instructors but to ensure that educators are professionalised, accredited, and supported in their roles. He added that the ultimate objective is to strengthen the teaching profession while protecting the interests of learners.

Officials from the Ministry, UNICEF, and UNESCO urged all stakeholders to contribute actively to the consultation process. Their participation, they noted, is vital to shaping final regulations that reflect the voices and needs of communities and educators across Namibia.