About Us

ETSIP is a fifteen-year strategic plan (2006 -2020) developed by the Namibian education sector in response to the demands of Vision 2030, which foresees Namibia achieving higher levels of industrialisation and earnings, together with greater social equity. Consistent with the Millennium Development Goals and national development plans, ETSIP recognizes that education is of cross-cutting importance for almost all sectors, for HIV control, poverty reduction, democracy, multi-culturalism and good governance.

It is reasoned that for Namibia to achieve the high rates of growth that are implied by Vision 2030 it will be necessary to improve on rates of economic growth. This will depend on improved productivity, which must be generated through better use of knowledge and technology.

However, a full investigation of the Namibian education system by the World Bank concluded that, despite the Government’s massive investment, the education system would not be able to produce the desired results, due to poor quality, inefficiency, inequity, inadequate management, and the impact of HIV and AIDS. ETSIP was therefore designed to reverse these trends.

A detailed plan for the first five years of ETSIP implementation has been developed for 2006 – 2011. The strategic choices for this period are the following:
• strengthening the supply of middle to high level skilled labour
• improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of general education
• Systematising knowledge and innovation
• Improving the effectiveness and relevance of the tertiary education system, and
• strengthening the policy and legal framework for access to lifelong learning

Nine sub-programmes have been developed, for early childhood development and pre-primary education, general education, vocational education, tertiary education, knowledge management and innovation, Information adult and lifelong learning, information and communication technology, HIV and AIDS, and capacity development.

The additional costs associated with the implementation of the first phase of ETSIP amount to an estimated N$ 2.4 billion over five years, which is to be jointly financed by the Namibian Government and a consortium of international development partners. Agreements are currently being concluded after a successful joint appraisal of ETSIP in October 2006. Close collaboration with the Namibian private sector and civil society is also an important aspect of ETSIP.