To the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth Sport, Arts and Culture
Slogan: Sports is life, revive our youth, for every learner!
The Problem:
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the sharp decline in youth interest and participation in sports across Namibia. This issue is a direct threat to the future of our national athletics and, more importantly, to the health and well-being of our young people.
A primary cause of this decline is the significant lack of Physical Education (PE) specialist teachers in state-owned schools. According to recent findings, over 92% of state schools lack these qualified professionals. This forces schools to appoint non-specialist teachers who, despite their enthusiasm, often lack the fundamental skills to effectively teach the subject. This leads to repetitive, uninspiring PE lessons, such as playing only soccer, tracking and netball, without proper feedback or skill development. As a result, learners lose interest in physical activity and are less likely to join local sports clubs after school.
This is evident in the recent decline in national sports performance. The number of Namibian athletes who qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games fell to just four, a significant drop from the 11 athletes who qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. This decline highlights an urgent need to strengthen physical education at the foundational level.
The Solution
We, as educational campaign planners and advisors, believe that a robust and engaging physical education curriculum is essential for building physically educated citizens. Physical education does more than just groom athletes; it also teaches valuable life skills, promotes physical and mental well-being, and fosters a sense of unity and national pride.
Therefore, we petition the Ministry of , Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture to take immediate action to address this critical issue.
We request that you:
1. Strengthen the Physical Education Curriculum: Revitalize the PE curriculum to make it more comprehensive, engaging, and aligned with national development goals.
2. Employ Qualified PE Teachers: Implement a policy to hire and assign a qualified Physical Education specialist teacher to every school across the country.
By taking these steps, you will not only revive youth interest in sports but also invest in the long-term health, discipline, and success of Namibia's future generations.
