High speed internet access promised for schools

National digital project enters completion phase
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp announced that the ministry is finalising nationwide digital expansion, which they aim to complete within the 2026/27 financial year.
Mamsey Musweu
  • 4 Hours Ago

The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) is entering the final phase of a nationwide digital infrastructure rollout initiated last year.

In her 2026 annual address on 28 January, education minister Sanet Steenkamp said that the foundational work to modernise Namibia’s classrooms began during the 2025/26 financial year. As the ministry prepares for the 2026/27 business cycle, the focus has shifted towards completing these critical technology installations to meet the growing demand for digital learning tools.

A core component of this strategy involves completing the establishment of computer laboratories in six schools per region across all 14 regions. These laboratories are designed to equip both learners and teachers with the resources necessary for a modern, knowledge-based economy. By ensuring these laboratories are fully operational within the current financial year, the ministry aims to provide equitable access to technology for students in both urban and rural communities.

Simultaneously, the ministry is working to finalise high-speed internet connectivity at 300 schools nationwide. This connectivity project, which saw significant progress over the past year, is essential for supporting the new curriculum and enhancing literacy and numeracy gains. The integration of reliable internet access with the new computer laboratories is expected to transform these schools into hubs of information and innovation.

Steenkamp emphasised that finalising these digital projects is a non-negotiable priority in advancing the ministry’s mission to shape the nation’s future. She noted that the successful completion of these laboratories and internet connections will directly support more than 526 000 users who rely on the ministry’s information ecosystem for education and economic participation.

By adhering to its “Foundation First, Excellence Always” motto, the ministry intends to deliver these completed digital assets to schools before the end of the 2026/27 financial period.