The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture held a consultative session with education stakeholders regarding the Teaching Profession Regulation Draft Bill at Katima Mulilo.

The bill aims to, among other things, establish a professional body to regulate teachers and devise professional growth.

Highlighting the aim of the consultation, former unionist Basilus Haingura said the Bill, if passed into law, will set parameters of the teaching profession.

The Bill will provide registration and deregistration of persons practising the profession and provide standards, ethics and disciplinary procedures.

It will further provide for continuing professional development and frequent skills training for registered persons and prohibit persons from practising the profession without being registered.

The Bill will provide the establishment of the teaching profession disciplinary committees and the teaching profession appeal tribunal.

UNICEF Representative Aune Victor says there is a need for teachers to be recognised, valued and protected by law and through the unions.

Victor says the bill will also ensure that as teachers, they contribute to the safety and well-being of the child.

The Bill will enable Namibian teachers to practise in any country of their choice, instead of in Namibia only.

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