Also known as: minister Sanet Steenkamp · Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp · Minister Steenkamp · Dr. Sanet L. Steenkamp · Minister of Education Sanet Steenkamp · Education minister Sanet Steenkamp · Sport minister Sanet Steenkamp · Dr Steenkamp · Dr Sanet Steenkamp
Sanet Steenkamp — Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, addressing education outcomes, youth inclusion and digital equity.
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Informanté
Dr Sanet Steenkamp said genocide remembrance must be treated as a national responsibility anchored in unity, justice and historical truth
“THE Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr Sanet Steenkamp, said genocide remembrance must be treated as a national responsibility anchored in unity, justice and historical truth, as Namibia commemorated Genocide Remembrance Day in the Oshana Region.”
Oshana region commemorates Genocide Remembrance DayInformanté
Dr Steenkamp visited the shrine of the late Omukwaniilwa Kambonde kaMpingana
“Earlier in the day, the Minister visited the shrine of the late Omukwaniilwa Kambonde kaMpingana, where she, together with Oshana Governor Hofni Ipinge and Ondonga Traditional Authority Chairperson John Walenga, laid a wreath in honour of his leadership and legacy.”
Oshana region commemorates Genocide Remembrance DayThe Namibian
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp called on young people to reject hatred, discrimination and division
“Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has called on young people to reject hatred, discrimination and division.”
Youth urged to honour genocide historyThe Namibian
Sanet Steenkamp said Genocide Remembrance Day is about reflecting on the past and accepting responsibility for the future
“She said Genocide Remembrance Day is about reflecting on the past and accepting responsibility for the future, and remembrance must strengthen commitment to justice, reconciliation and national unity.”
Youth urged to honour genocide historyWindhoek Observer
Sanet Steenkamp warned that Namibia risks future instability if young people are excluded from governance and opportunities
“Sanet Steenkamp has warned that Namibia risks future instability if young people continue to be excluded from governance, economic opportunities and national decision-making.”
Youth exclusion risks future instability – SteenkampInformanté
Sanet Steenkamp described the Nama festival as a sacred reclamation of identity
“Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp also described the festival as a "sacred reclamation of identity" and emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations.”
Nama Cultural Festival returns to Keetmanshoop for heritage celebrationWindhoek Observer
Sanet Steenkamp announced that youth and sports functions were officially gazetted in May 2024
“At the same event, Sanet Steenkamp, the minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture, announced that the youth and sports functions were officially gazetted in May 2024 and that consultations took place with unions, staff,and regional councils before the rollout.”
Sankwasa warns against power struggles in decentralisationThe Namibian
Sanet Steenkamp said her ministry's technical team will continue working with Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to support regions
“Meanwhile, the minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture, Sanet Steenkamp, said her ministry's technical team will continue working closely with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to support the regions in finalising the transition process.”
Youth, sports functions handed over to regional councilsThe Namibian
Sanet Steenkamp called for preservation and documenting of Namibia's liberation history
“Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, has called for the preservation and documenting of Namibia's liberation history for it to remain accessible for future generations.”
Steenkamp calls for preservation of liberation historyNew Era
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp described the donation as meaningful contribution towards promoting literacy, preserving history and strengthening access to information
“Education minister Sanet Steenkamp described the donation as a meaningful contribution towards promoting literacy, preserving Namibia's history and strengthening access to information.”
Chinese embassy, New Era honour NujomaAt Namibia's Genocide Remembrance Day observance in Oshana Region, the Minister of Education emphasised that genocide remembrance is a national responsibility grounded in unity, justice and historical truth. She called for schools and institutions to ensure young people understand the country's past and committed to healing and reconciliation through truthful education.
28 May 2026 · Informanté →
At Namibia's Genocide Remembrance Day observance in Oshana Region, the Minister of Education emphasised that genocide remembrance is a national responsibility grounded in unity, justice and historical truth. She called for schools and institutions to ensure young people understand the country's past and committed to healing and reconciliation through truthful education.
28 May 2026 · Informanté →
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has urged young people to reject hatred, discrimination and division, speaking at Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations in Ondangwa. She said Namibia's youth are essential for building lasting peace while preserving the memory of the 1904–1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people, and called on the current generation to transform painful memories into constructive national purpose.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp warned that Namibia risks future instability if young people are excluded from governance, economic opportunities and decision-making. She noted that 37% of Namibia's population is under age 15 and that youth should be treated as partners in governance and development rather than as a problem to manage.
27 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The 7th edition of the Nama Cultural Festival will take place at Westdene Stadium in Keetmanshoop from 28 to 31 May 2026, bringing together communities, traditional leaders, and visitors to celebrate Nama heritage, identity and unity. The event aims to preserve and promote Nama culture while strengthening social cohesion and encouraging intergenerational cultural exchange.
19 May 2026 · Informanté →
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has warned against political and administrative power struggles as the government decentralises youth empowerment, sports promotion and development planning functions to all 14 regional councils, with 327 staff members expected to be seconded during the transition. Sankwasa stressed that decentralisation cannot succeed if institutions compete for authority and called for clarity on reporting lines and responsibilities between governors, regional councils and decentralised staff.
15 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The government has officially transferred youth and sports functions from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture to regional councils. Minister Sankwasa said decentralisation requires regional structures to demonstrate commitment to performance, accountability, and improved management.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp called for the preservation and documentation of Namibia's liberation history during a handover of about 400 coffee table books on founding president Sam Nujoma's life to schools and public libraries. The books were donated by New Era Publication Corporation Board chairperson John Sifani and Chinese ambassador Zhao Weiping.
13 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Chinese Embassy in Namibia and New Era Publication Corporation donated 400 pictorial coffee table books valued at N$200,000 to the Ministry of Education to honour the legacy of Founding President Sam Nujoma and promote literacy and historical preservation.
13 May 2026 · New Era →
Former Namibian editor Gwen Lister has urged the government to urgently operationalise Namibia's Access to Information Act, signed in 2022 but not yet in effect, warning that delays are exposing journalists to growing legal and digital harassment amid increasing global threats against the media.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus !Ganeb Secondary School at Uis in the Erongo region has received 20 computers, a printer and networking equipment valued at N$347 000 from the Swakop Uranium Foundation to bridge technological gaps in rural education.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus !Ganeb Secondary School at Uis in the Erongo region received 20 computers, a printer, and networking equipment valued at N$347,000 from the Swakop Uranium Foundation. Education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the donation supports the foundation's ten-year commitment to bridging the digital divide in Namibian schools, particularly in rural areas.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A joint committee is drafting a strategy to revive the Loudima Institute for Technical and Vocational Training in the Republic of the Congo by July. The institute, which trained exiled Namibians during the liberation struggle and provided technical training in the 1980s, was suspended in 2021 due to poor living conditions and infrastructure challenges.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp has urged government public relations officers to improve their responsiveness to media enquiries, warning that delayed communication fuels misinformation. She made the remarks during World Press Freedom Day commemoration in Windhoek on Friday, noting that Namibia is ranked 23rd globally and second in Africa for press freedom.
8 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Education Minister inaugurated a computer laboratory at Petrus !Ganeb Secondary School in Uis, donated by Swakop Uranium Foundation with 20 computers and networking infrastructure. The minister reaffirmed government commitment to digital education through partnerships while acknowledging persistent technology access gaps in rural areas.
6 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Education says the reintroduced trimester system is improving learning outcomes and follows requests from school management, parents and teachers for shorter learning cycles and better teacher focus. A school principal supports the system but notes concerns about children enrolling mid-year, particularly in urban areas.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp said a reduced capital budget has left the ministry unable to fund critical regional and infrastructure needs.
29 April 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Minister Sanet Steenkamp told newly appointed National Arts Council members that transparent, equitable, and impactful resource allocation is critical to supporting Namibia's creative sector fairly. The council is responsible for managing the National Arts Fund and ensuring funding reaches artists across both urban and rural areas.
25 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Sport minister Sanet Steenkamp and deputy minister Dino Ballotti met International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry in Lausanne to discuss strengthening Namibia's sport infrastructure, athlete empowerment, and Olympic collaboration with the Namibia National Olympic Committee.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
21 April 2026 · New Era →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp has pledged to eliminate unfair and corrupt recruitment practices within her ministry, citing persistent complaints about favouritism, bias and lack of transparency. She stressed that all appointments must be fair, transparent and competitive, and called on senior managers to ensure hiring processes comply with established policies and ethical standards.
15 April 2026 · New Era →
Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti presented the N$35.104 million youth and sports budget for the 2026/2027 financial year to the National Assembly, framing it as a strategic investment in Namibia's future given that 71.1% of the population is under 35. The budget allocates funds for youth skills training and entrepreneurship, the National Youth Service, sports development and infrastructure including N$140 million for basic sporting facilities across regions.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A reader appeals to Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp to acknowledge and support Namibian writers working in fiction and non-fiction to preserve the country's culture and history, and suggests the government learn from how other nations reward their authors.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has allocated N$2.53 billion to Namibia's two public universities for the 2026/27 financial year, with Unam receiving N$1.9 billion and Nust N$631 million, representing a 31% increase aimed at sustaining the rollout of subsidised tertiary education. The funding is intended to maintain affordability, expand higher education access through new campuses and hybrid learning, and support infrastructure projects including student accommodation and science facilities.
3 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Rising water levels in the Zambezi River during March displaced residents, caused loss of income, and isolated communities from schools and healthcare. The flooding has also intensified human-wildlife conflict as animals compete for reduced available land, with elephants damaging crop fields in some areas.
2 April 2026 · Informanté →
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has urged the government to rethink flood relief distribution, arguing that assistance should be allocated based on the actual number of people affected rather than households, since "people don't eat as a household; they eat individually." He stressed that relief must include food security measures beyond clothing and temporary parcels and sustain communities until the next farming season, particularly given the severe crop losses affecting the Zambezi Region.
1 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's government has supported the SHINE programme, an international exchange initiative involving six local universities and two European partners in Germany and Spain, aimed at improving education quality, graduate employability, and research opportunities. The EU-funded project, running from January 2026 to December 2028, seeks to modernise higher education and position Namibia as a hub of academic excellence in southern Africa.
1 April 2026 · New Era →
The National Youth Service's five-week rehabilitation programme at Henties Bay introduced 76 street-connected children aged 12–18 to structure, medical care, psychosocial support and life skills, with plans to transition them into formal schooling and vocational training. Graduates reported gaining confidence, emotional resilience and a sense of belonging after years of survival on the streets.
31 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia inaugurated the N$107 million Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) on 19 March 2026, a facility designed to train youth in green hydrogen, oil and gas, solar installation, and water sanitation to support the country's southern energy corridor development. The centre welcomed 253 inaugural trainees, including 101 women, and aims to provide international-standard technical certification to build a home-grown workforce for the region's emerging energy industries.
31 March 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Education has committed to providing tents, boats, temporary learning spaces, and other supplies to schools in the Zambezi Region affected by flooding. Following the Minister's visit to two schools impacted by the floods, the ministry is also considering temporarily relocating teachers and learners to higher ground to enable recovery of lost teaching and learning time.
31 March 2026 · Informanté →
The education ministry announced plans to relocate hundreds of learners affected by severe flooding in Zambezi, with water levels at Katima Mulilo surging past 6.9 metres. Two schools—Muzii Combined and Mpakano Primary—will be relocated to higher ground immediately, though infrastructure challenges including fencing, sanitation, and food supply remain urgent needs.
30 March 2026 · New Era →