Namibia's National Digital Teaching and Learning Policy Sets Human-Centred Rules for AI in Schools

Namibia's Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, led by Minister Sanet Steenkamp, is finalising a national Digital Teaching and Learning Policy for schools, due to be completed in 2026. The ministry frames its position explicitly as human-centred, stating that 'AI cannot replace teachers' and that technology must serve educational goals while keeping people central to decisions.

The draft policy permits AI to support lesson planning, draft assessments and administrative tasks, explain concepts in multiple ways, give instant feedback and generate practice exercises, and personalise pacing with 24/7 availability. It draws a firm line, however, on consequential decisions: AI must not be the sole basis for grading, placement or disciplinary outcomes, human review must remain possible, and professional judgement stays with the teacher.

On data protection, teachers are required to safeguard sensitive pupil information — names, academic records, attendance, assessments, photographs and behavioural data — and are barred from uploading confidential information to unsecured platforms. The policy is grounded in Namibia's Education Act (Act No. 3 of 2020), the Child Care and Protection Act (Act No. 3 of 2015), the pending Data Protection Bill, and the Access to Information Act (2022).

In parallel, the ministry's 2025/2026 Norms and Standards Framework for Schools, unveiled with remarks from Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti, formally folds artificial intelligence and digital literacy into the core curriculum as one of seven national quality areas, aiming to upskill both teachers and pupils in ICT in line with Fourth Industrial Revolution demands.

Caveat: as of the available reporting, the Digital Teaching and Learning Policy remains in draft form pending finalisation, so no implementation or compliance outcome data yet exists; it is evaluated here as a governance framework rather than a proven-impact intervention.

Read the full analysis: https://www.namibian.com.na/how-schools-should-manage-ai-usage-by-pupils-and-teachers-from-policy-to-the-classroom/