Languages in Namibia

Namibia combines formal, non-formal and informal ways to learn and use languages. The Constitution identifies English as the official language. Other languages may be used in private schools and in state-funded or subsidised schools when legal requirements for English proficiency are met or educational reasons support the choice. Laws may also permit other languages in regional legislation, administration and justice. No single government portal covers every language course in Namibia. In state schools, the Education Act establishes English as the language of instruction and as a subject from Grade 1. The Minister may authorise another language by Gazette. The national policy generally uses a learner's Home Language or the predominant local language from Pre-Primary to Grade 3, followed by a transition to English in Grade 4. Grades 5 to 12 generally use English as the medium of instruction; the Home Language can continue as a subject and supporting language. Learners study two languages from Grade 1 to Grade 9 and, where possible, also in Grades 10 to 12. English remains required, while the second language is usually a local language taught at First Language level. A Foreign Language can be offered where the school has the relevant programme. The policy is not implemented identically everywhere. The 2023 EMIS data recorded 1,892 schools and 266,432 learners in Grades 1 to 3. Recorded teaching media included Oshindonga in 478 schools with 58,834 learners, English in 396 schools with 67,099 learners, Oshikwanyama in 289 schools with 44,844 learners, Rukwangali in 176 schools with 24,231 learners, Otjiherero in 100 schools with 16,214 learners, Rumanyo in 105 schools with 10,566 learners, Khoekhoegowab in 98 schools with 14,670 learners, Silozi in 94 schools with 11,142 learners, Afrikaans in 92 schools with 13,045 learners, Thimbukushu in 49 schools with 4,637 learners, German in 7 schools with 342 learners, Setswana in 4 schools with 429 learners, Ju/'hoansi in 1 school with 270 learners and Sign Language in 3 schools with 109 learners. Parent choice, urban multilingualism, teacher shortages and limited materials often lead schools to use English instead of the planned local medium. NIED syllabi and materials cover local languages such as Ju/'hoansi, Khoekhoegowab, Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga and Otjiherero in the junior-primary years. Secondary-school language options include English, Afrikaans, German, French, Portuguese, Khoekhoegowab, Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Otjiherero, Rukwangali, Rumanyo, Setswana, Silozi and Thimbukushu. A language listed in a national syllabus is not automatically available at every school; the actual choice depends on the site, staffing, materials and enrolment. The Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment, or DNEA, administers the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level and Advanced Subsidiary level, commonly called NSSCO and NSSCAS. Learners can enter through full-time or part-time arrangements, and examination access can include support for learners with learning difficulties. Examination subjects include English as a first or second language, Afrikaans, French, German, Khoekhoegowab, Oshikwanyama, Silozi, Thimbukushu and other approved languages. A local-language subject demonstrates achievement in that language; it does not generally replace the requirement to study English. Adults and out-of-school youth can use the Directorate of Adult Education. The National Literacy Programme in Namibia, or NLPN, has three stages. Stage 1 develops literacy in a mother tongue, basic numeracy and Basic English. Stage 2 consolidates these skills and continues Basic English. Stage 3 develops Intermediate English and numeracy. Each stage normally runs for ten months from February to November. The 2017 to 2023 EMIS records show 25,994 enrolments in Stage 1, 33,382 in Stage 2 and 33,903 in Stage 3; the figures can include repeated participation by the same learner. The Adult Upper Primary Education programme, known as AUPE, lasts three years, normally covers two subjects per year and uses three modules per subject over ten months each year. It aims at a certificate equivalent to Grade 7. The Family Literacy Programme runs for four months from January to April. Digital learning is available but fragmented. NAMCOL's Certificate in English Communication, or CEC, is an online-only course for reading, writing, speaking and listening. Access requires a Grade 10 certificate or a Grade 12 certificate or statement, together with identification, and the course is open to the general public. It has four modules and normally includes six or eight tutor-marked assignments, with at least 50% required for each assignment. The recorded 2024 fee was N$1,200 plus a one-time data fee of N$690, but fees can change. NAMCOL also offers English for General Communication and English Language Competence I to III through its eLearning services. NAMCOL's 2026 Cambridge Linguaskill service offers online assessment of four English skills aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR, a scale used to describe language ability. Candidates book without fixed examination dates or a single venue. The listed centres are Ongwediva and Windhoek, and the fee is N$1,068 for each skill pair: Reading and Listening or Speaking and Writing. The assessment can support learning decisions, higher-education access or employment applications, but acceptance depends on the institution or employer. Higher-education language learning includes NUST English Communication Service Courses such as Principles of Language Use, English in Practice, English for Academic Purposes, Professional Writing and Professional Communication. Courses may run for one semester or serve a particular academic or professional context, with online activities available. The reviewed information does not specify access rules or fees for external learners, and it does not directly establish an equivalent programme at UNAM. Work-related language learning focuses mainly on functional English. NTA Foundation Communication Skills covers English reading, workplace communication, workplace documents and parts of the Labour Act through an eLearning portal. NUST Professional Communication addresses meetings, documentation, interviews, presentations and intercultural communication. The reviewed sources do not establish a general legal language requirement for every workplace. A particular employer, occupation, training programme or safety context may still set its own communication expectations. Private courses, community practice and everyday multilingual use also matter, but they are not systematically recorded. A suitable learning path therefore depends on the purpose: early literacy, school progression, an examination, adult education, workplace communication, higher education or personal use. A local language may be the most effective foundation for early literacy, while English is usually decisive for progression through education and access to many work and study settings.