Swartbooi says that more funds won’t fix education sector

By: Josia Shigwedha

Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says despite the increased budget allocation to the ministry of education, no real changes will be seen in the country’s education sector.

This comes after the recently merged education ministry saw a budget increase from around N$18 billion in 2024/2025 to nearly N$25 billion in the 2025/2026 national budget. The newly appointed finance minister, Ericah Shafudah, tabled the budget on 27th of March.

Speaking at LPM’s fourth National Convention Conference held on Saturday at Parliament in Windhoek, Swartbooi questioned the prioritisation of the education sector in the national budget.

He suggested that a significant portion of the funds should rather be directed towards the agriculture ministry to create jobs and strengthen the country’s food security.

Swartbooi said no one is explaining what will be done differently or what will change.  He also said the health and the defence budgets will remain the top three.

“ So you look at the budget, even when more money is given, nothing will change in the education sector. But instead of giving the education sector the entire 24 or howsoever billion, what if 3 billion could be taken and given to the agricultural sector so that you can at least have a 3.4, three point five, a five point four, five point six billion for agriculture,” remarked Swaartbooi.

 Swaartbooi said, yet the  government entered into the all Africa agricultural arrangement that requires every African state to invest 10% of their annual budget in agriculture to create jobs and ensure the society’s ability to feed itself.

He further expressed concern over the absence of an officially designated Leader of the Opposition, saying that it could present challenges in parliamentary proceedings.

“Because whether or not you agree with some provisions or not, you’ve got to play the politics as you see it and not as you imagine it. Some of our colleagues do not have, perhaps, the willingness to interpret and see politics as it is and work for politics eventually along the process as it ought to be,” said Swaartbooi.