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Homeschooling is legal in Namibia, but only with the Ministry of Education's approval. The Basic Education Act 2020 requires parents to register a child for home schooling, and the ministry is the only body that can approve it.
This guide covers the law, how registration works, the NSSCO and NSSCAS exams, CAPS and international options, costs, and university entry in Namibia and South Africa.
Yes, with approval. The Basic Education Act 3 of 2020, in force since 5 October 2023, lets parents register a child for home schooling with the Ministry of Education.
| Basic Education Act 2020 | What it says |
|---|---|
| Section 1, definition | Home schooling is instruction in which parents, care-givers or privately appointed tutors or service providers teach a learner a legally approved academic curriculum at home instead of at a public or private school |
| Section 9 | School attendance is compulsory from the first school day of the year a child turns 6 until the last school day of the year they turn 18, or until they finish secondary school |
| Section 18 | Parents must apply to register a child for home schooling no later than 10 school days after the school year starts, or the day the child turns 6. A child taken out of school must be enrolled elsewhere, or have a home schooling application made, within 14 days |
| Section 87 | The Minister may register a learner for home schooling on health or disability grounds, or where it's in the learner's best interest. Registration can also be approved where the education will meet the minimum requirements of the State school curriculum at a standard not inferior to State schools, and it can be withdrawn if the requirements aren't met |
| Section 48 | The ministry's quality assurance officers monitor and evaluate all schools, including home schools |
In December 2025 the ministry said the Homeschooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) is neither registered nor recognised by it, and has no authority to approve, register or advise on home schooling. Parents must apply directly to the ministry, and failing to register is non-compliance with the Act.
The ministry also says home schooling means teaching your own children. Teaching children from other families in one place counts as running a private school, which must be registered separately.
Apply directly to the Ministry of Education. No association, centre or online school can register a child on your behalf.
The ministry's December 2025 statementLodge the application no later than 10 school days after the school year starts, or by the day your child turns 6. If you take a child out of school during the year, apply within 14 days.
The Act requires a legally approved academic curriculum, and the ministry weighs whether the education meets State school standards. A ministry director has said the people teaching should hold qualifications equivalent to teachers of the same subjects, so ask what the ministry expects before you apply.
Registered home schools can be visited by the ministry's quality assurance officers, and registration can be withdrawn if the requirements aren't met.
If a home schooling registration is cancelled, the child must be enrolled at a school within 14 days.
