Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698745050483.pdf (Namibia)
CONTRIBUTION BY HONOURABLE FAUSTINA CALEY TO THE 2016/2017 NATIONAL BUDGET GENERAL DEBATE, 10 MARCH 2016 Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to thank you for the opportunity accorded to me to contribute to the 2016/2017 National Budget, which was tabled by Hon.

Minister of Finance in this August House.

I would like to congratulate him, his deputy and the team for tabling the budged in time.
I will focus in my intervention on human resources development as the key enabler for sustainable development and poverty eradication.

Any nation that has development has developed by paying particular attention to education and skills development.

Namibia has acknowledged this fact, hence the aspiration in Vision 2030 of "a prosperous and industrialised Namibia, developed by her human resources, enjoying peace, harmony and political stability".
Namibia's fourth National Development Plan has articulated institutional environment, education and skills, health, the reduction of extreme poverty and public infrastructure as enablers to propel our country to Vision 2030.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, As representatives of all our people, we need to critically and objectively ask the question whether, as a country, we have done enough and have strategically invested in human resources and skills development to attain the aspirations of Vision 2030.

The Government of Namibia must be commended for prioritising education and training among all other priorities allocating more than20% of the national budget.
However we know for sure that 80% of the allocation goes to salaries.

The question remains, is the financial resources allocated to the component of human resources and skills development of our country sufficient?

I know that money will never be enough.

Therefore, example of what we saw on news yesterday, is commendable, a new vision school in Otjomuise Area.
Honourable Speaker Honourable Members Therefore, our oversight function should ensure that the resources allocated are utilized strategically and efficiently to build the human capital of our country.

We must pay particular attention to wastage in our education and training systems, which include high failure, drop out and repetition rates.

We must identify the critical inputs necessary to achieve equitable quality education.
Moral, ethical and accountable leadership must be provided at all levels of our education system.

As Members of Parliament we must ensure that access to inclusive, and equitable quality education and training as well as lifelong learning is achieved when we consider and approve the national budget?
It is education and training that have to supply the desired committed, competitive, dedicated and hardworking human resource we need in our respective Offices, Ministries and Agencies respectively that will take the economy of our country to the next level.

To do this, it cost money.


Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, As Law makers let us be conscious that education according to our Constitution and international conventions that we have ratified is a basic human right and a basis for sustained development?
It is important to continuously remind ourselves that we have obligations under our constitution and international laws to ensure access to equitable and quality education and training opportunities to all our citizens and residents in the Republic of Namibia.

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, We are living in a globalised world characterised by mobility of labour and skills and global competitiveness.
Nations that are world leaders today in various spheres are those that are paying particular attention to human resources and skills development and are strategically investing in research and innovation.

Nations that are not paying attention and investing strategically are likely not to compete globally, will not grow their economies to eradicate hunger and poverty.

We are living in the era of technology, the global demand is high and therefore Namibia is part of the global village.
We acquiring knowledge through e-Iearning, send money through internet and e-wallet, send documents through email.doing business through e-banking and get our prescription and that of our animals through e-health.

The list continues Namibia does not have a choice therefore, if we want to be a knowledge global player and part and parcel of knowledge-societies, grow our economy and create decent jobs, then we need to invest in our education and training systems.
They say the wealth of the country is its people.

Namibia should produce citizens with global outlooks and with the requisite skills, competencies, values and attitudes to contribute to national and global development.

We cannot continue to rely on international expertise in all the fields at this stage.
We must realize that those countries that we are relying on have strategically invested in human and skills development to the extent that they are able to export skills and remit remittances to their countries of origin.

Honourable Speaker Honourable Members In this august house we form one body with different parts.

In order for the body to be healthy and function properly the part must work in unison to keep the body vibrant.
I want to conclude by reminding ourselves that development of Namibia lies in our collective hands and we must begin to have confidence and trust in all our people, if we want to achieve Vision 2030.

I thank you.