Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698145023040.pdf (Namibia)
Jo ~ Honourab~?eaker, Honourable Members, I rise to enlighten the August House and the public at large about what free education means in Namibia versus parental support/contribution to education.
that education in Namibia, as per Article 20 of the Despite the fact Constitution, has always been free, the introduction and implementation of ~:~nA~~.itt~u~tli~o~n.~a~l~ the SDF seems to have been working in contravention PJ~ovision of free education).a~ rrttfTl'V'- a o~ ~~f ~~h; .~~ ~~(fwvua«J ~ there was a study done in 2010 that the As a result, payment of school development to accessing education for many learners.
That means, non-payment of SDF resulted in learners being sent home and those learners who were aware of their unfavourable socio-economic circumstances would usually drop out of school or simply not enrol fund was a barrier revealed that in school.

learners should attend school even if To avert this, The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) had in 2013.

This introduced access to fee-free education at primary level the parents cannot means all the afford any contribution.
Therefore, the Ministry libraries, etc., water and sanitation infrastructure in form of class rooms, curriculum facilities, ICT implementation i.e textbooks, and other teaching aids, as well as catering for learners with special educational needs.
laboratory equipment and materials, "free education" means that support materials the employment of qualified teachers, provides learning the the for for Another major cost driver of access to "fee-free" in this provrsion education are the government hostels, catering for hostel meals, school feeding programme, support to the community hostels as well as the National Senior Secondary Certificate examinations.
from these provrsions Apart demands for financial by government, there are still other resources in order to offer holistic education 1 because a learner also needs to be developed through extra-curricular activities such as sports, arts and culture.

the Ministry introduced For schools to continue their smooth operations, the the Universal Primary and Secondary Education Grants after to abolishment of SDF.
This Grant the schools which was previously N$ 400 per learner per annum for pre- primary and primary learners and N$ 500 for secondary learners, in order to still continue smooth operation.
funding gives a per-capita amount in the current However, over the years with the increasing number of learners, coupled this per capita allocation became smaller with the dwindling resources, approximately N$ such that learner while 200.00 was allocated N$300.00 for a secondary learner, amounting to One hundred and fifty- two million, three hundred sixty-six thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two Namibia Dollars (N$152,366, 772.00).
financial year 2021/2022, per pre-primary and primary These school grants i.e.

Primary Education Grant (PEG) and Secondary (SEG), should primarily be used for enriching the Education Grant curriculum implementation (teaching and learning).

Other needs of the school such as cleaning materials, school health and safety, minor maintenance repairs, school fencing and similar projects may also be funded from this grant funding.
In addition to the school grant funding, the Ministry also disburses funds to schools for the procurement of stationeries.

In the 2021/2022 financial three hundred and thirty-nine thousand, year, Fifty-one million, three hundred and eighty-three Namibia Dollars (N$ 51,339,383.00) was made available to regions for the procurement of stationeries.
These funds made provision of N$ 100.00 for every pre-primary and primary learner and N$ 150.00 for every secondary learner and the Ministry has maintained that allocation per learner over the years.

2 Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, through the it is clear that From the above elaboration, MoEAC makes money available to ensure free access to education by the allocated all Namibian learners.

The reality on the ground is that money is not enough to cater for all the needs as planned.
the government With the ever-increasing prices, schools are not insulated against such economic adjustments.

Thus, even with their best efforts schools will find it difficult to survive and meet all the needs of the school on the basis of the grants alone.

As a result, there are instances where parents, through their school board, are required to contribute to an array of needs at their schools.

This is done by many parents and it is highly appreciated.
towards VOLUNTARY, The Ministry is of the conviction that the introduction of the Primary and Secondary Education Grants did not oust the moral obligation and towards their children that are responsibilities of parents/guardians liberty to contribute, attending schools.

Parents/guardians are still at and albeit improvement of the schools of their children (and by inference their own schools).
I anyhow want hereby to remind our Principals that it is a policy of the government of the Republic of Namibia to offer free education to all Namibian children.

Thus, to get contributions from it should be done in such a way that no Namibian child is parents, excluded, inability to make a contribution.

and embarrassing way of treating parents and learners is condemned by the Ministry.

in whatever way, due to parental upkeep, maintenance in whatever effort Thus, whatever inhumane the Hon.

Speaker, Hon.
Speaker, Hon.

Members, the MoEAC thus wants to encourage our Regional Directorates to ensure internal efficiency in the distribution of stationeries to schools in terms of timely delivery.

Secondly, our Principals are urged to ensure internal efficiency in terms of purchase and fast distribution of stationeries to learners and ensuring that ALL stationeries are used up before they request parents for contributions.
Schools and their school boards should also ensure continuous flow of information between schools and communities with regard to financial reports and urgent school needs to which parents might need to contribute.
3 Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, In the pursuit of universal access to education for all, regardless of social class, gender and ethnic background, the Ministry hereby also strongly reiterates that no learner may be denied progress to a next grade or placement at a school for non-payment of voluntary contributions.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members of fiscal the current school management further In recognition community encourages members and parents to engage with one another in order to come to a mutual understanding on how best to ensure quality education for our children.

the Ministry boards, climate, school and I thank you!

4