Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
June 2026
Windhoek Observer
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturedirectedhigher education institutions to allow NSFAF-funded students to write examinations and access results
Source
“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has directed higher education institutions to allow Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)-funded students to write examinations and access their academic results while funding processes are being finalised.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturehostedhybrid information and coaching session on EU funding opportunities for higher education
Source
“THE Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the University of Namibia (UNAM) hosted a hybrid information and coaching session on European Union funding opportunities for higher education institutions under the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes, aimed at strengthening research collaboration, innovation, and institutional capacity.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturecommended by Vice President foradvancing inclusive education and ensuring equitable learning opportunities
Source
“Vice President of Namibia Witbooi commended the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture for advancing inclusive education and ensuring equitable learning opportunities for all Namibian learners.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturewill hostCertificate in Basic Pre-Vocational Skills Graduation Ceremony tomorrow at Augustineum Secondary School Hall
Source
“THE Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, through the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), will host the Certificate in Basic Pre-Vocational Skills (CBPVS) Graduation Ceremony tomorrow at the Augustineum Secondary School Hall in Windhoek, with officials highlighting the programme's growing role in transforming inclusive education and skills development in Namibia.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturehas sought urgent legal advice from the office of the attorney general tocancel a lease agreement with Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba for an unoccupied building
Source
“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has sought urgent legal advice from the office of the attorney general to cancel a lease agreement with northern businessman Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba for an unoccupied building in Independence Avenue, documents seen by the Windhoek Observer reveal.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC)stated that the facilities are designed toexpand grassroots participation and provide accessible sporting spaces
Source
“According to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), the facilities are designed to expand grassroots participation and provide accessible sporting spaces, particularly in underserved areas.”
MEIYSACsponsoredN$400,000 to support Collective Singers' trip to Canada
Source
“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture (MEIYSAC) has sponsored N$400 000 to support the Namibian choir, Collective Singers, for their trip to Canada.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturehas spentmore than N$38 million in consultancy fees for stadium upgrade
Source
“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has already spent more than N$38 million in consultancy fees related to the planned upgrade.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and CultureclosedOshanamutango Primary School due to low enrolment
Source
“Enrolment numbers fell below the minimum requirement of 50 learners, and the school was closed by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture's Oshikoto directorate.”
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC)has allocatedN$10 million to each region for sports infrastructure development
Source
“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) has allocated N$10 million to each region nationwide for ongoing sports infrastructure development, particularly the rollout of facilities at the regional and constituency levels.”
The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund is processing institutional invoices since April 2026 for tuition and non-tuition support, with advance payments already made to institutions. Non-tuition fee payments will now be processed weekly starting the second week of June 2026.
Why it matters
NSFAF clearing outstanding student payments weekly from June addresses delays affecting institutional operations and student support.
The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund is processing institutional invoices since April 2026 for tuition and non-tuition support, with advance payments already made to institutions. Non-tuition fee payments will now be processed weekly starting the second week of June 2026.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) walked out of talks with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) over delayed disbursement of tuition and non-tuition funds, rejecting proposed timelines and calling for a protest at Government Park on Friday after the fund failed to meet previous commitments to release funds in April.
The Ministry of Education has directed higher education institutions to allow NSFAF-funded students to write examinations and access results while funding payments are being finalised. The ministry is processing about 100,000 student funding records; delays stem from a high volume of applications, implementation of a new tertiary education funding model, and NSFAF integration.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture and UNAM hosted a hybrid information session on European Union funding opportunities through Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes for higher education institutions. The session highlighted how these programmes support research collaboration, innovation, international partnerships, and institutional capacity building aligned with national priorities.
Twamanguluka youth organisation and the ministry of youth have launched a national Youth Centre Revitalisation Project to transform youth centres into integrated hubs offering education, healthcare, enterprise development, sports, technology and employment pathways. Pilot programmes will begin in Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Gobabis.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi commended Namibia's inclusive education efforts at a graduation ceremony where 696 learners with special educational needs and disabilities received Certificates in Basic Pre-Vocational Skills, the programme's second cohort since its 2019 introduction. The NQA-accredited programme prepares graduates for vocational training, entrepreneurship, employment, and further education opportunities.
The Ministry of Education will host a graduation ceremony for the Certificate in Basic Pre-Vocational Skills (CBPVS), a two-year programme designed to strengthen inclusive education and equip learners with special educational needs and disabilities with foundational vocational and life skills while bridging skills gaps and responding to labour market demands.
The Ministry of Education has sought legal advice to cancel a lease agreement for an unoccupied Independence Avenue building that has cost the state N$1.1 million monthly since 2024. The building, leased from northern businessman Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba since December 2023, was found unsuitable for office use and remains empty.
Government will build a N$5 million sports facility in Rehoboth with a gravel athletics track, ablution facilities, and a pavilion seating approximately 350 spectators as part of the Basic Constituency Sport Infrastructure Facilities programme allocating N$10 million per region for 28 facilities nationwide. Residents have raised concerns about the location near an oxidation pond and cemetery, and questioned why a new facility is being pursued while an older stadium remains incomplete.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture has sponsored N$400,000 to support the Namibian choir Collective Singers for a singing tour in Canada from 11 to 25 April, representing the country alongside choirs from around the world. Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti said the financial support reflects the government's commitment to investing in talent and enabling Namibian artists to perform on global stages.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the feasibility study for upgrading Windhoek's Independence Stadium has been approved following consultations with the Confederation of African Football, with Namibia now awaiting a detailed report outlining the next steps to bring it to international standards. The government has also identified 121 community sports facility sites nationwide and decentralised construction responsibility to regional governors.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the feasibility study for upgrading Windhoek's Independence Stadium has been approved following consultations with Confederation of African Football inspectors, with Namibia awaiting a detailed CAF report on next steps to meet international standards. The government has also identified 121 community sports facility sites nationwide, with designs completed for 28 sites and construction already underway in several regions.
Oshanamutango Primary School in Olukonda constituency has remained closed since 2018 after enrolment fell below the Ministry of Education's minimum requirement of 50 learners. Community leaders have proposed repurposing the school infrastructure for a vocational training centre or police station, pending approval from regional authorities.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has distributed N$10 million to each of Namibia's 14 regions for construction of basic, multi-purpose community sports facilities as part of a phased national sports infrastructure development programme. The first phase, funded with N$140 million, will support construction of 28 facilities nationwide, with implementation decentralised to Regional Governors.
Namibian artists have called for fair prize structures, better professional support, and financial literacy training as the government consults on reviving the Namibia Annual Music Awards, which were discontinued in 2020. The Arts Directorate is also advancing an updated copyright law to protect musicians and other creatives in the digital age.
Windhoek will host the Khomas Uhuru march and Namfest@36, featuring a 1,000-person parade, innovation talent shows, and music performances by local artists, to celebrate national unity before the official Independence Day celebrations at Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow.
The Ministry of Education has clarified that schools will remain open and fully operational on Friday, 20 March 2026, despite the planned "Economic National Action Day," as the date does not fall within a weekend or declared long weekend on the official school calendar.
The Ministry of Education has clarified that teachers and public servants can run private businesses, but must obtain official approval under the Public Service Act to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure public duties are not compromised. However, some teachers expressed concern that the requirement discourages them from earning extra income to supplement insufficient salaries.
The Ministry of Education has issued an urgent directive requiring private schools offering the IEB curriculum to register Grade 12 learners with recognised examining bodies, as the IEB International Secondary Certificate is not recognised by the Namibia Qualifications Authority and learners risk denial of university admission.
The Ministry of Education clarified that public servants may engage in lawful outside work but must declare and obtain written approval to avoid conflicts of interest and protect service delivery. The clarification followed confusion after an Omusati Education Directorate notice, and applies regulations under the Public Service Act requiring all public servants to declare remunerative activities outside their official duties.
Jackson Muma, CEO of Okongo Village Council, discussed ongoing infrastructure and land delivery projects, including servicing 55 plots in Block 103 with N$5.6 million in funding, allocating 121 semi-serviced plots to the Shack Dwellers Federation, and developing an open market. Over the next five years, the council plans to position Okongo as an investment centre focusing on agriculture, tourism, and sports development, including construction of a 7-hectare sports field.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture's youth development allocation has increased by N$70.6 million to N$750 million for the 2025/26 financial year. The National Youth Council of Namibia welcomes the boost but emphasises that funds must be targeted at employment pathways, entrepreneurship, and skills development to make a meaningful impact.
The Ministry of Education has launched a regional outreach programme to inform learners about tertiary education opportunities, admission requirements, and government support, beginning in Kavango West and extending to other regions through March 2026.
The Deputy Minister of Education has officially launched the 24th edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, a youth football and netball tournament established in 2001 that provides opportunities for young athletes from all 14 regions to showcase their talent. The 2026 tournament will be hosted in the ǁKharas Region from 3 to 6 April in Keetmanshoop.
The Namibia Training Authority CEO warned unregistered TVET training providers that they face closure, noting that non-compliance and disregard for the country's laws persist in the sector. Currently 71 training providers are registered, with TVET enrolment at approximately 13,500 trainees at the start of the 2026 calendar year.
Nationwide consultations are underway to revise Namibia's Early Childhood Development policy ahead of a formal transfer of the mandate to the education ministry effective 1 January 2027. The revision realigns the existing policy to reflect legislative and institutional changes, with focus on strengthened teacher qualifications, quality assurance, and integration of health and nutrition interventions, alongside government plans to significantly increase sector investment including per-child grants.
Disgruntled Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund employees have petitioned President Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene in the institution's reintegration into the education ministry, citing salary cuts of up to 100%, lack of consultation, and what they describe as autocratic board decisions. The staff have filed a labour complaint, with several including the acting CEO resigning on Friday, though Education Minister Steenkamp disputes the allegations and insists service delivery will not be affected.
Cabinet has approved three Memoranda of Understanding with Spain, Malta, and Hungary to strengthen cooperation in education, research, sport, and scholarships. The agreements include sports and physical education cooperation with Spain, a research and innovation framework with Malta, and Hungarian scholarships for Namibian citizens.
Namibia has submitted its draft National Report for the UN's 2026 Universal Periodic Review of human rights records. Cabinet also approved cooperation agreements with Malta on research and innovation, and with Hungary on a scholarship programme offering up to ten scholarships per year to Namibian students.
The Ministry of Education has commenced construction of Basic Constituency Sport Infrastructure Facilities across 28 constituencies in all 14 regions, with implementation handed to regional governors and N$10 million allocated per region. Construction has begun in Kunene, Oshana, and Kavango East, with remaining regions to follow.