Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture

Also known as: sport ministry · Ministry of Education · education ministry · Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Art and Culture

Government body responsible for education, youth, sport, arts and culture policy; oversees school food contracts, teacher training partnerships, sports infrastructure, and music awards in Namibia.

Culture

Khomas region hosts youth festival for 36th Independence Day

The News

The Khomas governor's office will host NamFest@36, a youth-centred festival on Friday featuring cultural events, an innovation talent show, an Uhuru march with over 1,000 participants, and a music bash. The festival will showcase free acts in music, poetry, dance, painting, plays and inventions, with over 50 performances and 20 local exhibitors, celebrating Namibia's Independence Day under the theme "Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future."

20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

  1. Khomas region hosts youth festival for 36th Independence Day

    The Khomas governor's office will host NamFest@36, a youth-centred festival on Friday featuring cultural events, an innovation talent show, an Uhuru march with over 1,000 participants, and a music bash. The festival will showcase free acts in music, poetry, dance, painting, plays and inventions, with over 50 performances and 20 local exhibitors, celebrating Namibia's Independence Day under the theme "Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future."

    20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Otumborombonga to get new primary school with private funding

    The Otjozondjupa education directorate has received a two-hectare piece of land from the Otumborombonga community for the construction of a primary school, funded by a German couple and valued at approximately N$2.2 million. The school, expected to cater to learners from pre-primary to Grade 7, will ease pressure on distant schools and reduce travel burden for approximately 7,000 residents in the area.

    19 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Fifteen pupils at Rundu hostel treated for food poisoning

    Pupils at Rundu Secondary School in Kavango East reported suspected food poisoning after eating lunch, with 15 treated and four admitted to hospital. The pupils blamed the hostel kitchen's dirty conditions and poor hygiene, noting the presence of cockroaches, flies, and drainage problems; health inspectors were investigating and similar incidents have affected schools across both Kavango regions.

    19 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 18 March

  1. Kavango school garden teaches pupils farming and boosts hostel food security

    Katjinakatji Combined School in Kavango West has revived its garden to provide pupils with hands-on agricultural experience while working toward supplying vegetables to the school's hostel. Grade 11 and 12 pupils conduct practical exams and research the effectiveness of different fertilisers, though the project faces challenges including salty water and limited funding for resources like irrigation equipment.

    18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Ministry orders private schools to operate within approved grades

    The Ministry of Education has instructed private schools to operate only within their approved grades and programmes, following reports that Eileen Private School in Kavango East offered Grade 10 classes without authorisation. The school has been formally instructed to discontinue the grade and the ministry says it will continue monitoring to ensure compliance with the Education Act.

    17 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. Early childhood education and formative assessment key to Namibia's learning

    An opinion piece argues that while Namibia's 2025 exam results show improvement, systemic educational gaps persist because learners lack foundational skills. The author, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar at UNAM, contends that formative assessment embedded in teaching—combined with investment in early childhood education—is more effective than summative exams alone at closing achievement gaps.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Nanso documents rural Kunene school infrastructure and learning gaps

    The Namibia National Students Organisation completed its Access to Education and Fix My School Campaign in Kunene region, visiting multiple schools to assess learning conditions. The campaign found positive teaching efforts at some schools but also identified critical challenges including lack of basic teaching materials, temporary tent classrooms, and learners sleeping in classrooms due to absent hostel facilities, with findings to be submitted to the Ministry of Education.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 12 March

  1. Ballet, festivals, and film screenings fill Windhoek calendar

    This week in Windhoek features performances including the National Ballet School's 'Peter Pan', a four-day Fractal Festival of psytrance and electronic music at Spitzkoppe Mountain Range starting at N$1,200, and 'The Film Week', an annual celebration of Namibian cinema running through Sunday at Nust with screenings and industry discussions.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Omusati education director bans teachers from side businesses

    The education director in Omusati region has ordered teachers to cease all unauthorized income-generating activities outside their full-time jobs, warning of audits and disciplinary action under the Public Service Act. Teachers have resisted the directive, arguing that their low salaries force them to seek additional income to cover loans and living expenses, with union leaders noting the rule applies to all public servants but should be enforced more educatively.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Arts ministry consults on reviving dormant Namibian music awards

    The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture has invited industry stakeholders to help shape the return of the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), which have been dormant since MTC withdrew funding in 2020. A stakeholder engagement session is scheduled for 14 March to strengthen the awards' credibility and gather input on award categories, industry development needs, and future direction.

    10 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Minute