Education unions from Southern Africa, including Namibia, gathered at the Education International (EI) Southern Africa Sub-Regional Workshop on the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from July 15-17, 2026. The workshop emphasized that quality public education begins with quality funding, a principle central to addressing challenges in Namibia's education system.
Namibia has made education a national priority, with significant investment in the sector. However, unions point to persistent challenges such as teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and unequal access to quality education, particularly in rural areas. The Go Public! Fund Education campaign advocates for increased public investment in education, arguing that current funding levels are insufficient to meet the needs of learners.
According to the latest available data from UNESCO, Namibia spends approximately 9.1% of its GDP on education, one of the highest ratios in Africa. Despite this, the country faces a shortage of qualified teachers, with a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 30:1 in primary schools, above the regional average. Unions argue that funding must be targeted effectively to improve learning outcomes and reduce disparities.
The workshop concluded with a call to governments in the region to honor their commitments to education financing, including the recommendation of allocating at least 6% of GDP or 20% of national budgets to education. Participants also stressed the importance of social dialogue and collective bargaining in shaping education policies.
