Justicia Shipena
The deputy minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports and Culture, Dino Ballotti, has called for stronger national support for teachers’ mental health. He said their well-being is essential to the success of the country’s education system.
Speaking at the launch of the Teachers’ Mental Health Awareness Campaign in Keetmanshoop on Friday, Ballotti said the initiative aims to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and foster a culture of care in schools.
The launch took place ahead of World Teachers’ Day, which Namibia celebrated with the rest of the world on Sunday.
“When teachers are well, schools shall be well, and when schools are well, our nation will thrive,” he said.
Ballotti pledged to distribute a “teachers’ mental health aid kit” to all 2 061 schools across the country.
He described the campaign as an act of solidarity with Namibia’s 34 325 teachers and commended the //Kharas Region for leading the first initiative of its kind. “This timely initiative in the beautiful //Kharas Region is the first of its kind, and we seek to replicate it countrywide,” he said.
Ballotti said the campaign follows a difficult period for the education sector, after three teachers in the Ohangwena region died by suicide in July.
“We must break the silence and the stigma that surrounds mental health, particularly among men who are often culturally discouraged from seeking help. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of strength,” he said.
Drawing from his own experience as a former teacher, Ballotti shared that counselling had helped him become a better husband, father, and servant leader.
He acknowledged the pressure teachers face, including high workloads, financial strain, emotional exhaustion, and limited psychosocial support.
He said concerns raised by teachers, such as salary adjustments, would be submitted to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
He urged ministries and agencies to work together, describing the campaign as a cross-cutting national effort.
“To every educator here and listening: You matter. Your well-being matters. And Namibia appreciates you immensely,” he said.
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare also paid tribute to Namibia’s teachers in his World Teachers’ Day message on Sunday, describing them as the primary caregivers in a child’s education.
“After parents, you are the Kamana Kandongo in the education of the Namibian child. We commit to continuing to invest in education, as has been the case since independence. We value your humanity and your dedication,” he said.
Ngurare said the government remains committed to improving teachers’ living conditions, particularly in rural areas, and confirmed that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed that such efforts be fast-tracked.
“We are proud of you, and you are our daily role models,” he said.
Namibia celebrates this year’s World Teachers’ Day against the backdrop of the Teaching Profession Bill and its regulations, introduced in Parliament recently by education minister Sanet Steenkamp.
The bill seeks to restore integrity and respect in the teaching profession by creating the Teaching Profession Council of Namibia, an independent body to oversee teacher registration, regulate the profession, and issue practice certificates. Without valid registration, no one will be allowed to teach in Namibia.
The council will also develop a code of professional standards and ethics, strengthen quality assurance, and require continuous professional development to align with international best practices. Public consultations on the bill are ongoing in all 14 regions until 17 October 2025.
Last week, Namibia National Teachers’ Union (NANTU) Secretary General Loide Shaanika urged teachers to stop teaching subjects outside their area of training, saying it violates professional standards and deprives learners of quality education.
Globally, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Teacher Task Force report that the share of trained teachers in sub-Saharan Africa has declined from 85% to 69% in primary schools and from 79% to 59% in secondary schools between 2000 and 2024.
They warn that the lack of teacher support undermines education quality and contributes to teachers leaving the profession. An estimated 44 million additional teachers are needed worldwide by 2030 to achieve universal primary and secondary education.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day is celebrated under the theme “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession”, which emphasises teamwork as a driver of educational transformation.
