The Basic Education Act 3 of 2020 has finally been enacted in October 2023 and is now ready for implementation.

This was announced by the Education Ministry's Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, on Good Morning Namibia. 

The Basic Education Act seeks, among others, to promote and regulate free and compulsory basic education, ensure equitable, inclusive quality education, and provide for the establishment, accreditation, registration, governance, and management of state, private, and public schools and hostels, as well as the establishment of the National Advisory Council on Education.

The Act also makes provision for a separate teacher's professional bill.

This is to protect and hold teachers accountable for performance and failure to meet set targets, which Steenkamp says are not currently adhered to.

Consultations with unions are currently underway.

The Executive Director also highlighted the increased capacity development of teachers in various subjects for better performance.

She added that 16 new schools will be established across the regions in 2024, while over 700 teacher's posts have been allocated.