Figure 1.--This photo was taken in South-West Africa durng the 1940s. The photo shows Johan, Viljoen, and Neil Greeff, the three Boer family. They are playing with their dog Rex and with a cart. The boys are wearing their school uniform of long sleeves shirt and short pants with striped tie and bare feet.

We do not know about education in the pre-colonial era. Namibia was orginally a German colony, Southwest Africa. Walvis Bay, the largest city and port, was a separate British colony. We have little informarion about schools in the German colony. It is unlikely there were any German state schools for the native population, but there were probably some mission schools. The German colony was seized by the South Africans during World War I. Te League of Nations apprived South African control as a mandate. South Africa thus administered the colony as a result of World War I and after the War administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory. After World War II South African without international sanction continued to occupy the country. The same Apartheid systen developed in South Africa was imposed on Namibia. Presumably the South Africans developed a school system similar to that in South Africa itself. This meant a system focused on education white children and limited resources devoted to the native population, but native eucation was established. Namibia achieved independence (1990). We have only limited information on the school system at this time. The Constitution of independent Namibia provides for free education until age 16 years or until children complete their primary education. English is the official language, primarily because it is a common language. Some 12 native languages are used in the beginning primary years with English gradually introduced anbd used for the upper grades and univerity education. Children begin primary school at age 6 years. Some for some reason bein later. There are 7 years of primary education (grades 1-7). This is followed by 3 years of junior secondary school (Grades 8-10). Many children end their schooling at this point. And unlike earlier grades, grade 10 can usually not be repeated to earn the Junior Secondary Certificate. There is a non-formal education sector. The next step is Senior Secondary School, a program with high acadeic standards (grades 11-12). Stidents finishing this program are awarded the Senior Secondary Certificate qualification, either the International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE) or the Higher International General Certificate of Education (HIGCSE), depending on the program chosen. IGCSE exam papers are set and marked in Namibia, but moderated by Cambridge University. HIGCSE question papers are set, marked and moderated by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Colonial Era (1878-1990)

We do not know about education in the pre-colonial era. Namibia was orginally a German colony, Southwest Africa (1878). The British claimed Walvis Bay, the largest city and port, as a separate colon in the same year. We have little informarion about schools in the German colony. It is unlikely there were any German state schools for the native population, but there were probably some mission schools. We note that German authorities established the Kaiserliche Realschule (Imperial High School) (1909). We believe it was primarily to provide a secondary school for German colonists. We do not know if any native or mulatto children were accepted. After Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated at the end of World war I, the name was changed to Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (German Higher Private School) (1918). By this time the colony was in South African hands. The school, however, continues to operate today. The German colony was seized by the South Africans during World War I. The League of Nations apprived South African control as a mandate. South Africa thus administered the colony as a result of World War I and after the War administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory. After World War II South African without international sanction continued to occupy the country. The same Apartheid systen developed in South Africa was imposed on Namibia. Presumably the South Africans developed a school system similar to that in South Africa itself. This meant a system focused on education white children and limited resources devoted to the native population, but native eucation was established.

Independent Namibia (1990- )

Namibia achieved independence (1990). We have only limited information on the school system at this time. The Constitution of independent Namibia provides for free education until age 16 years or until children complete their primary education. English is the official language, primarily because it is a common language. Some 12 native languages are used in the beginning primary years with English gradually introduced anbd used for the upper grades and univerity education. Children begin primary school at age 6 years. Some for some reason bein later. There are 7 years of primary education (grades 1-7). This is followed by 3 years of junior secondary school (Grades 8-10). Many children end their schooling at this point. And unlike earlier grades, grade 10 can usually not be repeared to earn the Junior Secondary Certificate. There is a non-formal education sector. The next step is Senior Secondary School, a program with high acadeic standards (grades 11-12). Stidents finishing this program are awarded the Senior Secondary Certificate qualification, either the International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE) or the Higher International General Certificate of Education (HIGCSE), depending on the program chosen. Until recently there were few Namibian secondary school graduates, let alone universuty graduates. Thus Naminia turned to Britain for assistance in both secondary and univerity education. IGCSE exam papers are set and marked in Namibia, but moderated by Cambridge University. HIGCSE question papers are set, marked and moderated by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. We do have information on a private school, the Windhoek Gymnasium.

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
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Created: 8:18 PM 2/6/2009
Last updated: 11:22 AM 6/5/2014