The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture says it will strive towards the achievement of its key mandate of ensuring conducive teaching and learning in the country's education system.

Anna Nghipodoka said this while motivating her ministry's budgetary allocation of N$16.7 billion for 2023/24 financials in the National Assembly.

In a close to 36-page speech, the Education, Arts, and Culture Minister took time to explain where the biggest chunk of the country's national budget will be used for.

Among the ministry's many priorities, Nghipondoka maintained that it will ensure prudent financial management and transparency in the execution of its work, now and in the long term.

She stressed that the ministry will work towards improving learner performance, which she says was heavily affected by COVID-19 and the results in both the secondary and Advance Subsidiary Levels.

The minister further noted that efforts are being made to improve all sectors of education by implementing the recommendations of the National Education Conference.

The ministry also aims to recruit additional teaching staff, improve ICT in schools and upgrade the specific sectors of culture and the creative arts industry.

The ministry has budgeted for the construction of new classrooms, renovation of existing ones, and expansion of the school feeding programme.

The Namibia College of Opening Learning will receive N$120 million, while N$2 million will go to the family literacy programme.

The ministry is working on finalizing its strategic plan for 2023/2024.