Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge has highlighted ongoing challenges facing the region’s education and youth sectors, including underdeveloped infrastructure, staff shortages, and high levels of youth unemployment.
He made the remarks on Monday during the opening of a stakeholder consultative workshop hosted by the parliamentary standing committee on education, youth, civic relations and community development in Oshakati.
“We acknowledge the challenges faced by many of our education and training institutions, from infrastructure development and staffing constraints to youth unemployment and limited access to skills development opportunities,” Iipinge said.
He noted that more than one-third of Namibia’s population consists of young people and stressed the need for policies that directly address their needs.
“This reality demands that we remain intentional about policy formulation and implementation that responds directly to their needs, be it through quality education, vocational training, sports development, access to information, or platforms for civic engagement,” he said.
The Oshana Regional Council has allocated N$118.1 million to youth-focused programmes.
Despite this, youth unemployment in the region remains high at 66.2% for males and 62.9% for females between the ages of 15 and 24.
National data from 2018 shows youth unemployment stood at 46.1%, with higher rates in rural areas and among young women.
A study on vocational training in Oshana found that the lack of a dedicated training barometer makes it difficult for young people to access suitable programs, limiting their employment and entrepreneurship prospects.
Schools in the Oluno Circuit have reported shortages of classrooms and delays in receiving government funding, which has affected the rollout of free secondary education.
Reports also indicate poor alignment between vocational training and labour market demands.
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted learning across the region, particularly in areas with limited access to digital platforms.
Iipinge said the ongoing consultations would help the standing committee develop a report that identifies institutional and community gaps and proposes solutions.
“We trust that the insights gathered here this week will help the committee compile a comprehensive and actionable report that not only identifies gaps but also points the way forward toward greater cooperation, efficient resource allocation, and improved service delivery,” he said.
The standing committee is conducting consultations nationwide. Its findings will be presented in the National Assembly.
