Windhoek, Aug 1 — At a landmark event held on July 31, 2025, at Outjo Sport Stadium in the Kunene Region, President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in a statement read on her behalf by Rt Prime Minister Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare officially launched her country’s commitment to the African Union’s “End Learning Poverty for All in Africa” initiative. The ceremony, attended by top government officials, education leaders, traditional authorities, and young learners, underscored the urgent need to eradicate learning poverty the inability of children to read and comprehend a simple text by age 10 across Africa.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that learning poverty is not merely an educational issue, but an African emergency. With Africa’s population of 1.6 billion, the continent lags behind others in literacy and numeracy rates, despite its vast mineral wealth. The President highlighted that millions of African children are denied foundational skills, compromising prospects for innovation, productivity, and empowered citizenship.
Namibia was chosen as one of 25 priority countries for the campaign’s first phase a responsibility President Nandi-Ndaitwah accepted with “resolve, determination, and urgency.” While the nation has improved access to education, troubling gaps persist, especially in rural and marginalized communities.
The government is responding through a series of measures:
Curriculum reforms and investments in Early Childhood Development.
Teacher training and capacity building.
Implementation of the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA).
Scaling high uality, inclusive early learning opportunities.
These steps align with Namibia’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, and Africa’s Agenda 2063, which place education at the heart of inclusive prosperity and social justice.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah asserted that foundational learning is the bedrock of national development, vowing that it will not be overshadowed by more visible projects. The newly launched National Development Plan 6 places education at the center of Namibia’s socio-economic priorities, and the government aims to embed learning objectives in all sectors and budgets, ensuring transparency and accountability through measurable outcomes.
Namibia’s dedication is reflected in its high levels of financial commitment:
The Ministry of Education receives N$24.83 billion (23.4% of the national budget, 8.9% of GDP).
This allocation surpasses the international benchmarks of 20% of the budget and 6% of GDP.
Over N$12 billion is earmarked annually for pre-primary and primary education, focusing on teacher salaries and professional development.
The President stressed that ending learning poverty demands collaboration across all sectors and society. Special attention will be paid to learners with disabilities, those in remote areas, and children studying in their non-native languages. The campaign calls on the private sector, international partners, and civil society to support innovation, teacher empowerment, and creative learning solutions.
Inspiring Africa’s Children and Educators
Addressing children directly, President Nandi-Ndaitwah urged them to “read boldly, ask questions, be curious,” underscoring that education is their power. She praised teachers as architects of minds and guardians of Africa’s creative and intellectual future.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded by declaring the campaign officially launched, calling it a turning point for Namibia and a beacon for Africa. She invoked a vision of a continent where foundational literacy and numeracy are universal, and where the “clarion call of the African child, parent, teacher… ignites our resolve for Africa’s brighter tomorrow.”
This initiative aims to ensure that future generations across Africa will thrive guided by knowledge, dignity, and opportunity.
Jeremia Martha: African Youth Newspaper
Photo:MEIYSAC
