Africa-Press – Namibia. Minister of Education , Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp said despite Namibia’s strong legal and policy frameworks promoting national unity, the enforcement of anti-tribalism measures in schools remains inconsistent.
This is allowing ethnic divisions and stereotypes to persist among learners.
In an interview with Nampa, Steenkamp said tribalism among learners has become a concern, one that undermines the purpose of education and contradicts Namibia’s constitutional values of equality and unity.
“Our Constitution enshrines the principle of unity in diversity.
Our education system must be the primary vehicle for nurturing that ideal. Unfortunately, while frameworks exist, implementation varies significantly across schools,” she said.
She noted that schools are guided by the Education Act of 2020 and codes of conduct that prohibit any form of discrimination, yet some institutions still experience incidents of tribal jokes, bullying and exclusion.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to this reality. Enforcement needs to be strengthened at every level,” she said.
She added that while themes of national identity and unity are embedded in subjects such as life skills, history and social studies, many schools fall short of translating these values into daily practice.
The minister noted that teachers play a critical role in shaping learners’ attitudes towards other cultural groups.
“Our teachers are our greatest resource, but they must be empowered and reminded to challenge stereotypes when they arise, and to model inclusive behaviour in classrooms,” she said. She warned that unchecked tribal ism has long-term consequences for Namibia’s future, as it fosters division and weakens social cohesion among the youth.
She assured that the ministry will continue reviewing school policies and training programmes to ensure that the education system remains a unifying force – one that moulds learners into responsible citizens who embrace diversity and strengthen Namibia’s social fabric. -Nampa
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