The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) has caution the public about unregistered groups that claim to regulate homeschooling and private schools in Namibia.

In a media statement, the Ministry says it is concerned about an organisation, mainly operating in the Erongo Region, that is presenting itself as a legal authority for homeschooling.

The Education Ministry clarified that the Home-Schooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) is not registered and not recognised by them, making it clear that HSAN has no legal power to approve, control, register or advise on homeschooling in the country.

The statement issued by the Executive Director, Mbumba Erastus Haitengela, says any claims that HSAN is a regulatory body are false and should be ignored by the public.

According to the Basic Education Act of 2020, the Ministry of Education is the only authority allowed to regulate education in the country, and this includes approving homeschooling, registering private schools and making sure learners are safe and receive proper education.

The Ministry explained that homeschooling means parents or carers teach their own children at home or hire a private tutor, using a curriculum approved by the Ministry, and it does not mean teaching children from different families in one place.

The statement also warned that anyone teaching children from several families is operating as a private school, not as a homeschool.

Such a school must be registered with the ministry, and if it is not registered, it is operating illegally. it stressed.

Parents who want to homeschool their children must apply directly to the Ministry of Education for approval. 

The Ministry warned that failure to follow the law is a violation of the Basic Education Act. Therefore, it urged parents and the public to only trust information shared through official Ministry channels and not from unregistered organisations.