Table of Contents

Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Policies and programs in place to promote early childhood development......................................2
Measures taken to address child poverty and ensure that all children’s basic needs are met..........3
The solution.............................................................................................................................4
Certain types of child labour are subject to strong prohibitions. Namibia has joined an............4
International Labour (IOL) agreement which forbids these kinds of Child Labour:..................4
Child Trafficking.........................................................................................................................5
How does Namibia addresses healthcare system?...........................................................................5
How Namibia’s juvenile justice system addresses the needs of children who come into conflict
with the law?....................................................................................................................................5
Policies and programs in place to promote gender equality and ensure that girls have equal
access to education and other opportunities....................................................................................6
Several measures to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, including improving access to
health care and social support..........................................................................................................7
Supporting Children’s Well-Being..............................................................................................8
Prioritize social and emotional learning......................................................................................9
Roles can the government, civil society, and international organizations play in supporting the
development of Namibian children.................................................................................................9
Recommendations............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11
Introduction:
Education is a fundamental right that every individual should have access to. However, the cost
of education can be a significant barrier for many families, especially in developing countries. As
a result, the government has implemented education policies that aim to provide free education
to all students at the primary and secondary levels. In this assignment we will explore the
benefits of providing free education and the various education policies that have never been
implemented to achieve this goal, and discuss whether the education policy position that assists
in the development of the Namibian child or not.

Policies and programs in place to promote early childhood development

Namibia’s first national early childhood development policy was introduced in 1996. Article 20
of the Namibian constitution guarantees the right to education to all, including compulsory and
free primary education while article 95 which deals with the promotion of the welfare of people,
state that the state shall actively promote and maintain welfare of people by inter alia, consistent
planning to raise and maintain an acceptable level of nutrition and standard of living of the
Namibian people and to improve public health.

The IECD policy in Namibia aims to protect the holistic care, development and protection of
children from birth to six years of age. This policy recognizes that early childhood is a critical
stage in a child’s development and seeks to promote the physical, cognitive, social and emotional
well-being of children in Namibia.

To achieve this goal, the policy outlines several strategies, such as:

1. Promoting access to quality early childhood education: This involves increasing the number of
early childhood development centers, providing training for teachers and caregivers, and
improving the quality of infrastructure and resources in existing centers.

2. Improving health and nutrition: The policy emphasizes access to healthcare, nutrition, and
hygiene services for young children. This includes providing immunizations, promoting
breastfeeding, and providing nutritious meals and supplements.

3. Strengthening child protection: The policy seeks to protect children from all forms of violence,
abuse, and neglect.
4. Enhancing parental and community support: The policy recognizes the role of caregivers,
families, and communities in caring for and nurturing young children. Thus, it seeks to provide
parenting skills development and support for families, and promote community involvement in
early childhood development programs.

Overall, the IECD policy in Namibia is aimed at promoting an integrated and multi-sectorial
approach to early childhood development, involving both the government and civil society in
working together to ensure that every child in Namibia has access to quality and comprehensive
care, development, and protection. The overacting framework for the government and civil
society in working together to ensure that every child in Namibia has access to quality and
comprehensive care, development, and protection. The overacting framework for the government
of Namibia is vision 2030 which envisages that all children aged 0-6 having access to early
childhood development.

Measures taken to address child poverty and ensure that all children’s basic needs are met.
Children who do not reach potential cannot contribute fully to social, political and economic
growth, and those whose grow up in poverty are more likely to be poor when they are older,
perpetuating a cycle of poverty and disadvantage. Poverty in childhood can have life-long
consequences with the poorest children less likely to access health care or complete their
education and more likely to suffer from poor nutrition.

Children are more likely to be poor than adults, and also some children are more likely to be
poor than other particular children with disabilities, children from larger families and those in
remote areas. Most children also suffer disproportionately from poverty.

The roots of the problem lie in the mix of:

Failure to prioritize the social protection programs that have the greatest benefits for children.
Limited budget on the human resources.

Discrimination against the most vulnerable people, including those who receive social
protection. Barriers such as bureaucratic processes and lack of information about entitlements
and programs.

The result: The most vulnerable children in the region are not being reached by benefits to which
they are entitled.
The solution
All children have the right to standard of living that ensures their full development. That is why
UNICEF supports government as they attempt some shield children from the impact of poverty
and deprivation. Also ensuring that children have a good education which provides them with
skills and knowledge and economic security to cover essential needs sustainable and with
dignity. Policies in place to protect children from abuse, exploitation including child labour and
trafficking.

Namibia has set up laws which protect children from being taken advantage of, forced into work,
or involved in work that is inappropriate for their age. Not all employment undertaken by
children is illegal. The rules on child Labour and activities involving child Labour come from the
following Namibian laws. Namibia constitution, Labour Act 11of 2007 and child protection Act
3 of 2015 and its regulations. There are also rules about child Labour and child exploitation in
several international agreements which Namibia has joined: convention on the rights and
Welfare of the Child, African Charter on the rights and Welfare of the Child, International
Labour Organization (IOL) convention 138 concerning minimum age for admission to
employment etc.

Certain types of child labour are subject to strong prohibitions. Namibia has joined an
International Labour (IOL) agreement which forbids these kinds of Child Labour:

All slavery or practices similar to slavery, including the sale and trafficking of children for use in
armed conflict.

Using or offering children for illegal activities, including drug dealing. Work which is likely to
harm the health, safety or morals of children. The Child Care and Protection Act implements this
Convection in Namibia by making these prohibited activities into crimes punishable by fines of
up to N$50 000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years. It also requires anyone who has personal
knowledge of any of the worst forms of child Labour to report them to the police.

Namibia’s Labour Act sets rules regarding the employment of children to make sure that child
employment does not become child Labour. The employment of children is regulated by the
Labour Act, which goes even farther than the Namibian Constitution in its protections. Children
under the age of 14 are prohibited from being employed at all.
Child Trafficking
Child trafficking involves actions such as the recruitment, transport, delivering, receiving,
keeping or selling a child. Trafficking of children may take place for purposes of sexual
exploitation, criminal exploitation, forced Labour or services, slavery (including forced
marriage) or servitude, amongst other purposes. These clearly overlap with some forms of illegal
child Labour, particularly with the worst forms of child labour. Preventing child exploitation,
child Labour and regulated activities involving children.

How does Namibia addresses healthcare system?

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is the manager and provider of public health services
in Namibia. It operates a four-tiered health system, consisting of PHC sites, district hospitals,
intermediate hospitals and referral hospitals. Namibia Health Plan (NHP) was established in
1995 to provide a world class, uniquely Namibian medical aid plan to help cover medical costs.
Namibia’s healthcare system has made notable progress in prioritizing the specific health needs
of children to promote their optimal growth and development the healthcare system recognizes
the importance of addressing the specific health needs of children, particularly in terms of
immunization and access to pediatric medical care. The country has implemented several
initiatives to ensure that children receive the vaccinations they need, such as routine
immunization and school based vaccination campaigns.

How Namibia’s juvenile justice system addresses the needs of children who come into conflict
with the law?
The goal of Namibia’s Juvenile justice system is to encourage the rehabilitation and reintegration
of kids who have legal issues. The system is aware that kids are weaker than adults and need to
be treated differently. The Juvenile Judicial Act, which calls for the creation of distinct juvenile
judicial system, reflects this.

The Juvenile Justice Act calls for the creation of a specialized court system that only deals with
minors who have run afoul of the law. The system is created to offer a child-centered strategy
that is concentrated on the child’s best interests. It encourages restorative justice procedures that
seek to undo the damage brought on by the offense and make it easier for the for the child to
reintegrate into society. The Act also includes alternatives to incarceration like therapy,
probation, and community service. These steps are intended to stop the child from becoming
more deeply entangled in the criminal justice system and to address the root causes of the child’s
criminal behavior.

The Act also provides for alternative measures to detention, such as community service,
probation, and counselling. These measures aim to prevent the child from becoming further
involved in the criminal justice system and to address the underlying issues that led to the child’s
offending behavior.

In addition, the Act provides for the appointment of probation officers, who are responsible for
assessing the needs of children in conflict with the law and developing individualized
rehabilitation plans. The probation officers work closely with the children and their families to
ensure that the children receive the necessary support and services to facilitate their rehabilitation
and reintegration.

The Namibian government has also established several institutions that provide support and
services to children in conflict with the law. These institutions include the National Council for
Child Welfare, which provides counseling and support services to children and families, and the
National Youth Service, which provides vocational training and life skills to young people.

Despite these efforts, there are still challenges in the implementation of the juvenile justice
system in Namibia. These include a lack of resources and trained personnel, as well as a lack of
awareness and understanding of the system among the public. In conclusion, the Namibian
juvenile justice system recognizes the unique needs and vulnerabilities of children who come
into conflict with the law. It aims to provide a child- centered approach that promotes
rehabilitation and reintegration. However, there still a need for further investment and resources
to ensure the effective implementation of the system.

Policies and programs in place to promote gender equality and ensure that girls have equal
access to education and other opportunities.
Gender equality has been a long-standing issue in many parts of the world. Despite the progress
made in recent years, there is still a lot that needs to be done to ensure that girls have equal
access to education and other opportunities. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and
other stakeholders have implemented various policies and programs aimed at promoting gender
equality. In this text, I will discuss some of these policies and programs.
One of the most significant policies aimed at promoting gender equality is the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). According to the United
Nations (2021), CEDAW is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the UN General
Assembly. The treaty aims to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in all areas of
life, including education, employment, and healthcare. It has been ratified by 189 countries,
making it one of the most widely ratified human rights treaties in history.

In addition to CEDAW, many countries have implemented laws and policies aimed at promoting
gender equality. For example, in India, the Right to Education Act of 2009 guarantees free and
compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. The law also prohibits
discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, or religion (Government of India, n.d.). Similarly, in
Rwanda, the government has implemented policies aimed at increasing girls' enrollment in
schools. These policies include providing free education for girls up to secondary school level
and offering scholarships for girls who perform well academically (UNESCO, 2018).

Apart from policies and laws, various programs have been implemented to promote gender
equality. One such program is Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation initiative that aims to
empower girls around the world. According to Girl Up (n.d.), the program provides leadership
training, advocacy opportunities, and funds for girls' education programs. Another program
is. Let Girls Learn, a US government initiative launched in 2015. The program aims to provide
access to education for girls in developing countries. It focuses on addressing the barriers that
prevent girls from attending school, such as poverty, cultural norms, and early marriage (USAID,
n.d.).

promoting gender equality and ensuring that girls have equal access to education and other
opportunities is crucial for achieving sustainable development. Governments, non-governmental
organizations, and other stakeholders have implemented various policies and programs aimed at
promoting gender equality. These include CEDAW, laws and policies aimed at promoting
gender equality, and programs such as Girl Up and Let Girls Learn.

Several measures to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, including improving access to
health care and social support.
Here are some of the measures being taken:
1. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs: Namibia has implemented
PMTCT programs to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. These programs
provide antiretroviral treatment to pregnant women living with HIV, which can reduce the risk of
transmission to their babies.

2. HIV testing and counseling: Namibia has expanded HIV testing and counseling services to
improve early detection and treatment of HIV testing and counseling services to improve early
detection and treatment of HIV in children. This includes routine HIV testing for infants born to
mothers living with HIV.

3. Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART): Namibia provides free ART to all the people living
with HIV, including children. The country has also established pediatric ART clinics to provide
specialized care for children living with HIV.

4. Social support: Children affected by HIV/AIDS often face social and economic challenges,
including stigma and discrimination. The Namibian government and civil society organizations
provide social support services to children affected by HIV/AIDS, including education,
psychosocial support, and economic empowerment

programs.

5. Policy and legal frameworks: Namibia has developed policies and legal frameworks to address
the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, including the children’s Act and the National Policy on
Orphans and Vulnerable Children. These frameworks aim to protect the rights and welfare of
children affected by HIV/AIDS. Overall, these measures aim to improve the health and well-
being of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Namibia, and to reduce the impact of the disease on
their lives.

Supporting Children’s Well-Being

Children receive love, acceptance, praise, encouragement, and guidance from their parents and
caregivers. They offer the most private space foe nourishing and protecting children as they grow
physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, as well as their personalities and identities are
formed.

The majority of disciplinary actions involve kids who act violently, injure other kids, or disobey
the rules. Many factors, such as traumatic events, newly discovered developmental disabilities or
mental health problems, or even the course of child’s day, can contribute to issues with
behavioral issues are really just responding to their environment.

Prioritize social and emotional learning.

Negative behavior can be prevented by developing social and emotional skills, which include
learning how to handle problems, form relationships with teachers, make friends, and fit into a
group. Children should be taught how to make new friends and resolve conflicts. Academic
performance is made easier by learning and caring environments that encourage children’s
healthy social and emotional development.

Emotional support to children also includes responding to children’s reactions in a supportive

way, listening to their concerns and taking time to comfort them and give them affection,
reassure them and tell them that they are safe and praise them frequently.

Every kid has the right to a top-notch education that upholds high standards, is suitable for their
requirements, and enables them to realize their potential and achieve the best results.

Parents getting to know their kids, will realize that their kids develop at different rates and some
of them may already be able to do things that others find difficult. This is a normal part of
childhood growth and may simply show that positive progress may be made with small changes
to the methods used to teach or the provision of more support, encouragement, and additional
help and good progress can be made.

Roles can the government, civil society, and international organizations play in supporting the
development of Namibian children
The government could help uplift the rights of children in Namibia by educating citizens on the
importance of children’s rights. The government could ban some cultural practices in the country
as they could be hostile to the children.

The government could create or provide more information on the rights of children by organizing
campaigns to be able to gain access to rural areas. Prevent the society from stigmatizing the
children or youth that knows and want to protect their rights.

Recommendations
We would recommend that Namibian organization could come up with ways to meet the level of
children who are unskilled in the academic system. Some children have different talents which
may not be able to be pursued by using the current school system, government should come up
with new innovative ways which are inclusive to all Namibian children. Government should
analyze other fields of career choices, which Children who are not academically good can
pursue. The education system should make every Namibian child feel like they belong and bring
some value to the country.

Conclusion
The Namibian education system plays a vital role in the development of the Namibian children
and country at large, children hold the future. Providing Children with quality education to
prepare them and enhance the intellectual capacity plays a vital role in every child’s future and is
a factor that should be taken seriously. By investing in quality education, Namibia is investing in
the future of its children and the future of the country as a whole. Nelson Mandela once said “It
is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a
mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of a farm worker can become the
president of a great nation.” So it does not matter where you come from, what matters is what
you can do to change the world we live in.
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