Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture
Also known as: MEIYSAC · Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture · Ministry of Youth
Namibian government ministry responsible for education, youth, sports, arts and culture policy, currently implementing school sports development programmes and managing higher education regulation.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
July 2026
Windhoek Observer
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturesought an exemption fromthe ministry of finance to appoint NTA for hostel food supply
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“The ministry of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture says it sought an exemption from the ministry of finance and public enterprises to appoint the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) to supply and deliver food to government school hostels through a public entity, instead of an open competitive bidding process.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturehas directed funding towardshigh-performance programmes
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“Vries said the ministry has already directed funding towards high-performance programmes, while additional allocations have been set aside to support national teams participating in major international competitions.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Cultureannounced2026 International Youth Day event will be held in Keetmanshoop on 12 August 2026
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“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) announced that this year's event will be held under the theme "Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation through Technology and Partnerships", highlighting the role of young people in driving innovation, strengthening international collaboration and contributing to sustainable development.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Cultureurged members of the public toavoid enrolling in unregistered or unaccredited higher education institutions
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“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid enrolling in unregistered or unaccredited higher education institutions operating in Namibia.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and CulturelaunchedSchool Sports for Development Programme
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“The programme, launched in Windhoek by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF Namibia, is implemented under the Integrated Physical Education and School Sports (IPESS) policy.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Cultureurgedthe public to report higher education institutions operating without registration or accreditation
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“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has urged the public to report higher education institutions operating without registration or accreditation.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturecondemnedthe violence
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“The ministry strongly condemned the violence, saying no grievance justified causing harm to others and confirming that the matter is now being reviewed by the relevant authorities.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturecollaborated to launchthe 2026 Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinic in Oshakati.
Source
“The clinic was launched at Oshakati Independence Stadium this week through a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), the Namibia School Sport Union (NSSU), Cadilu Fishing Pty Ltd and the Real Madrid Foundation.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Cultureurged parents and guardians not to campoutside schools to secure admission for their children
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“The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has urged parents and guardians not to camp outside schools in an effort to secure admission for their children, stressing that Namibia's school admission process is not based on a first-come, first-served system.”
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culturemade clarification in statement delivered inNational Assembly on behalf of Minister Sanet Steenkamp
Source
“The ministry made the clarification in a statement delivered in the National Assembly on behalf of Minister of Education Sanet Steenkamp during the third session of the 8th Parliament.”
The education ministry sought an exemption from finance to appoint the Namibia Training Authority to supply food to government school hostels outside open competitive bidding, citing the need to reduce litigation risks and ensure food security after prolonged court cases. The interim arrangement is budgeted at just over N$90 million per month for six months pending resolution of a Supreme Court case.
The education ministry sought an exemption from finance to appoint the Namibia Training Authority to supply food to government school hostels outside open competitive bidding, citing the need to reduce litigation risks and ensure food security after prolonged court cases. The interim arrangement is budgeted at just over N$90 million per month for six months pending resolution of a Supreme Court case.
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced that Namibia has met international criteria for ending the cholera outbreak after both Grootfontein and Opuwo health districts completed more than 28 days without a confirmed case. The outbreak, declared on 27 November 2025, resulted in 82 laboratory-confirmed cases out of 282 suspected cases and one death in Opuwo district.
An additional N$50 million earmarked in the national budget could lift Namibia's sports investment to N$68.5 million this year, with funding directed towards elite athlete development, international competition preparation, and the Podium Performance Programme targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Namibia will hold the 2026 International Youth Day national commemorations in Keetmanshoop on 12 August 2026, with the theme "Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation through Technology and Partnerships." The annual UN-observed day recognises young people's contributions and addresses challenges including unemployment, education access, health and civic participation.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the China Tracking, Telemetry and Command Station, where she was briefed on its space operations capabilities and highlighted Namibia's commitment to advancing scientific training and international technological cooperation.
Namibia has launched the School Sports for Development (SS4D) Programme, implemented by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF Namibia, to use sport as a tool for promoting education, social inclusion and life skills development among learners. Vice President Lucia Witbooi said the initiative represents a national commitment to developing young Namibians with the skills, values and resilience needed to contribute to the country's future.
The Ministry of Education has urged the public to report higher education institutions operating without registration or accreditation, warning that qualifications from unregistered and unaccredited institutions may not be accepted by employers or other learning institutions. The ministry advises prospective students to verify a college or university's registration with the NCHE or NTA before enrolling and to check that their course is accredited with the NQA before making payments.
Nine delegates were injured during violent disruptions at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on Saturday, prompting the Electoral Committee to resign and the Ministry of Education to postpone proceedings citing safety and order concerns.
The Ministry of Education indefinitely postponed the National Youth Council general assembly in Swakopmund following an outbreak of violence on Saturday that injured nine delegates. The Electoral Committee has resigned citing safety concerns, and the ministry has received petitions from affiliates raising compliance and verification issues; Youth Minister Steenkamp says the interim board will address outstanding matters and communicate next steps.
The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has officially appointed the members of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Board for a three-year term, mandated to oversee development, promotion and regulation of boxing and wrestling in Namibia. The Board is chaired by Ronald Patrick Kurtz and includes Dr Naftal Natanael, Anita Tjombe Gawanas, Monalisa Molebugi and Kaura Tjimuine.
The 2026 Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinic has opened in Oshakati, providing primary school learners with football training and life-skills development through a partnership between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, the Namibia School Sport Union, Cadilu Fishing Pty Ltd and the Real Madrid Foundation to promote youth empowerment, discipline and talent development.
Namibia's Ministry of Education has urged parents not to camp outside schools to secure admission for 2027, clarifying that the admission process is not based on first-come, first-served. The ministry stressed that no parent is required to sleep outside school gates, and that admissions are guided by the Constitution, the Education Act 2020, and Circular 3 of 2026.
Organisers of the 2026 Nedbank Citi Dash aim to attract 5,000 participants when the running event returns to Windhoek on 5 and 6 September at Vegkop Stadium. The event has grown from a city race into a platform promoting health, fitness and community engagement, with participation rising to over 3,000 in recent years.
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.