Namibia: Basic Education in Namibia. Sector Review Report.

Overview & Synopsis

This report focuses on how assistance can best support Namibia's efforts to plan and institute new policies and practices to further its educational system. Namibia is working to restructure its educational system rapidly following its gaining independence in 1990. National Education Goals established in the country's constitution include the right to free education for all, compulsory-education requirements, and the right to maintain private schools and colleges. Three broad goals have been identified for Namibia's educational system: unify existing separate ethnic education authorities into one system, make education as uniform as possible, and make education as universal as possible. The plans for fulfilling these education goals are reviewed in nine chapters: (1) Goals and Plans; (2) History, Structure and Basic Data; (3) Equity and Efficiency Dimensions in Namibian Education; (4) Addressing Equity and Efficiency Issues; (5) Issues in Curriculum and Instructional Effectiveness; (6) Capacities for Planning and Management of Education; (7) The Resource Base for Education; (8) Non-Governmental Support for Education; and (9) "Summary Findings. The report comments on problems with the existing educational system and how to address them, priorities for resource allocation, strengthening system capacities, and policy issues. The appendixes include a numerical comparison between the existing and proposed organizations, a description of non-governmental organizations' activities in education, and a map of Namibia. (Contains 51 references.) (JPT)