The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture has warned parents
and the public against unregistered institutions that claim to regulate home schooling and private schools in Namibia.
In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said it is concerned about the activities of an unregistered institution operating mainly in the Erongo region, which claims to act as a regulatory body for home schooling and private education.
Ministry of education executive director, Mbumba Haitengela said that the Homeschooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) is not recognised or registered by the ministry. “The Ministry of education wishes to inform the public that the Homeschooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) is neither registered nor recognised by the ministry as a regulatory, coordinating, advisory or oversight body for home schooling in Namibia,” Haitengela said.
He stressed that HSAN has no legal authority to approve, regulate, control, register or advise on home schooling operations in the country.
“Any representation or suggestion that HSAN serves as a regulatory body is incorrect and should be disregarded by the public,” he said. Haitengela explained that under the Basic Education Act of 2020, the ministry of education is the only authority mandated to regulate and oversee all forms of education in Namibia. This includes approving and monitoring home schooling, registering private schools and ensuring compliance with education laws.
“In terms of the Basic Education Act, 2020 (Act No. 3 of 2020), the ministry of education is the sole authority mandated to regulate and oversee all forms of education, approve and monitor home schooling, register and regulate private education institutions, and protect the rights, safety and educational well-being of all learners,” he said. The ministry reminded parents who wish to homeschool their children that they must apply directly to the ministry for approval. Haitengela warned that failure to do so amounts to non-compliance with the law.
“Parents who wish to homeschool their children must apply directly to the ministry for approval. Failure to register constitutes non-compliance with the Basic Education Act, 2020,” he said.
The ministry also urged the public to rely only on official communication from the ministry of education for correct information on homeschooling and private education.
According to the statement, home schooling is defined in the Basic Education Act as education provided by parents, caregivers or privately appointed tutors to their own children. A private school, on the other hand, is any school owned or operated by private individuals or institutions and must be registered with the ministry.
Based on this definition, the ministry warned that anyone providing education to children from other families is operating a private school and must be registered as such.