Justicia Shipena
Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned officials in her ministry that if they get involved in corruption, they will be dismissed and may face criminal charges.
Steenkamp delivered the warning during the ministry’s annual staff address on Wednesday.
She said corruption, especially in teacher appointments and the handling of public funds, will not be tolerated.
“Any official involved in the solicitation or acceptance of money, favours or influence in appointments is committing serious misconduct and a criminal act,” she said.
“These practices, if proven, will result in disciplinary action, dismissal, and referral to law-enforcement authorities.”
She said allegations of selling teaching posts, favouritism, and manipulation of recruitment processes were serious and damaged learners, families and unemployed graduates.
She instructed regional leaders to ensure appointment processes are transparent, properly recorded and open to audits.
“There will be zero tolerance for corruption in appointments,” she said.
Steenkamp said public office is a responsibility, not a tool for personal benefit.
“Public office is not a personal entitlement, it is a public trust,” she said.
Reflecting on the past year, Steenkamp said progress had been made despite challenges following the merger of three ministries into one.
On education outcomes, she pointed to the release of the 2025 NSSCO and NSSCAS results as evidence of commitment by learners and teachers across the country.
“Excellence cannot be attained by accident. It is the result of proper planning and sustained purposeful investment,” she said.
She said the ministry remains focused on improving early literacy and numeracy.
This includes the rollout of the first national Grade 3 end-of-phase assessment and the expansion of early learning programmes.
Steenkamp also highlighted progress in access to education. She said school feeding programmes, learner support services and digital expansion continue to improve access. She said 300 schools have been connected to high-speed internet, with computer laboratories being set up in all regions.
On higher education, she said the Subsidised Tertiary Education Funding programme is expected to support more than 30 000 students, increasing access for new intakes by 35%.
“While no system is perfect, we will continue to strengthen this undertaking as we learn from its implementation,” she said.
She warned state-owned entities and subsidised institutions that public funding comes with strict accountability.
“Public funding is not an entitlement. It is an investment by the Namibian people, and it comes with responsibility,” she said.
She said poor performance, misuse of resources and failure to account for funds will lead to corrective actions, including leadership and governance interventions.
