Policy on school textbooks

A NATIONAL policy on textbooks used in Namibian schools has been drafted and was approved by Cabinet at its latest meeting on March 18.

The policy provides clear and concise directives to guide the Ministry of Education in textbook management and consultations with the education sector took place in the process. Between May and July 2007, the Education Ministry engaged a consultancy funded by the European Commission to assist in the development of a national textbook policy for primary and secondary schools.It is one of the priority activities required by development partners for the disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Education in support of the Education and Training Sector Improvement Plan (ETSIP).The Textbook Policy provides guidelines for the “production of inexpensive, but good quality textbooks for schools”, publishing of textbooks and the regulations thereof, procurement of textbooks, budgetary provisions for textbooks and a supply chain for the provision of textbooks to schools.The policy also covers the delivery, care and use of textbooks and other learning support materials in Namibian schools.Millennium Challenge Account Cabinet has also granted permission to the National Planning Commission, acting as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Namibia Governing Board, to create a structure for the MCA Namibia Implementation Unit for a period of five years.The US government is providing funds to selected developing countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations for its members.According to the latest Cabinet briefing paper this week, the appraisal of the MCA Namibia programme is nearing completion in terms of components for different sectors like health and education, and the administration of that programme.Government is now required to put a structure in place to manage its implementation.Cabinet thus approved the structure proposed by the Justice Ministry to establish a Public Service Unit within the National Planning Commission.However, it was later realised that, based on a number of considerations, the creation of a unit outside the Public Service would be the best option.”Given the nature of the work and the magnitude of human resources required (currently 41), as well as the time frame of five years, it is important to create a structure headed by a Chief Executive Officer with staff members who are not members of the Public Service of Namibia,” the Cabinet briefing paper stated.”The CEO shall report to the Director General and Board of the NPC, but will still be required to inform the Permanent Secretary of the NPC on all MCA activities.”Between May and July 2007, the Education Ministry engaged a consultancy funded by the European Commission to assist in the development of a national textbook policy for primary and secondary schools.It is one of the priority activities required by development partners for the disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Education in support of the Education and Training Sector Improvement Plan (ETSIP).The Textbook Policy provides guidelines for the “production of inexpensive, but good quality textbooks for schools”, publishing of textbooks and the regulations thereof, procurement of textbooks, budgetary provisions for textbooks and a supply chain for the provision of textbooks to schools.The policy also covers the delivery, care and use of textbooks and other learning support materials in Namibian schools. Millennium Challenge Account Cabinet has also granted permission to the National Planning Commission, acting as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Namibia Governing Board, to create a structure for the MCA Namibia Implementation Unit for a period of five years.The US government is providing funds to selected developing countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations for its members.According to the latest Cabinet briefing paper this week, the appraisal of the MCA Namibia programme is nearing completion in terms of components for different sectors like health and education, and the administration of that programme.Government is now required to put a structure in place to manage its implementation.Cabinet thus approved the structure proposed by the Justice Ministry to establish a Public Service Unit within the National Planning Commission.However, it was later realised that, based on a number of considerations, the creation of a unit outside the Public Service would be the best option.”Given the nature of the work and the magnitude of human resources required (currently 41), as well as the time frame of five years, it is important to create a structure headed by a Chief Executive Officer with staff members who are not members of the Public Service of Namibia,” the Cabinet briefing paper stated.”The CEO shall report to the Director General and Board of the NPC, but will still be required to inform the Permanent Secretary of the NPC on all MCA activities.”