Renthia Kaimbi
The ministry of works and transport has moved to strengthen Namibia’s road-safety framework by introducing a regulatory system for driving schools and driving instructors, with the aim of improving the quality and consistency of driver training across the country.
The ministry is set to announce the initiative during a stakeholder consultation workshop on the registration and regulation of driving schools and instructors held in Swakopmund later today, where government officials, regional and local authority representatives, road-safety stakeholders, driving schools and instructors gathered to discuss the proposed regulatory framework.
The consultation will be attended by Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses, Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe, Swakopmund mayor Suama Kautondokwa, NAMPOL Erongo Regional Commander Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona and ministry of works and transport executive director Jonas Sheelongo, among other stakeholders.
The ministry said the move was driven by the need to address inconsistencies in driver training and strengthen oversight of an industry considered critical to road safety.
“Road safety begins long before a driving licence is acquired,” the ministry said, stressing that it starts in the classroom, during the first practical driving lesson and through the quality of instruction provided to learners.
Driving schools and instructors, it said, play a critical role in shaping the behaviour, attitudes, knowledge, discipline and skills of future motorists.
The ministry acknowledged that many professional and responsible driving schools and instructors operate across Namibia and contribute to the economy by creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
However, it also identified several challenges within the sector, including differences in the quality of driver training, inconsistent operating practices, concerns over the competency and professional conduct of some instructors, the condition and suitability of training vehicles, and weaknesses in oversight and accountability.
“These challenges cannot be ignored,” the ministry said, adding that they require a coordinated response based on proper regulation, clear standards, effective monitoring and engagement with those operating in the sector.
The proposed framework is expected to establish clear requirements for the registration of driving schools and certification of instructors, while also strengthening oversight of training vehicles and the quality of driver instruction.
The ministry said regulations would need to be accompanied by effective compliance mechanisms, including accessible registration procedures, transparent inspections, proper record-keeping, monitoring systems and fair and consistent enforcement.
It warned that regulation would have little value if it could not be effectively implemented and enforced.
At the same time, the ministry said legitimate operators should not be disadvantaged by businesses or individuals operating outside the regulatory framework.
The ministry pointed to the Road Traffic and Transport Act, 1999 (Act 22 of 1999), which already provides a legal basis for regulating driver instruction.
Under the Act, a person may not, for reward, instruct or supervise another person in driving a motor vehicle on a public road unless they hold a driving instructor’s certificate issued in the prescribed manner.
The legislation also provides for regulations governing the application and issuance of instructor certificates, requirements attached to the certificates, their validity, standards for vehicles used for instruction, duties of instructors and circumstances under which certificates may be suspended or cancelled.
The ministry said the existing law provides a foundation, but that this needs to be translated into a modern regulatory system capable of responding to the realities of Namibia’s driving-school industry.
Under the proposed approach, prospective drivers should be able to establish whether a driving school is properly registered, whether an instructor is qualified and certified, whether training vehicles are safe and suitable, and whether the training meets an acceptable national standard.
The framework is being guided by five key principles: professionalism and accountability, competent and professional instructors, safe training vehicles, consistent standards and effective and fair regulation.
The ministry said instructors should possess not only driving skills but also the ability to teach, with knowledge of road safety, defensive driving, risk management and learner assessment.
It further called for instructors to demonstrate integrity, patience and professionalism.
“Driving instructors are on the frontline of road safety,” the ministry said, noting that the habits taught to learners can remain with motorists for decades.
It urged driving schools to invest in their instructors, vehicles and training materials, arguing that success should not only be measured by the number of learners who obtain driving licences.
Instead, the quality of drivers produced by driving schools should also be a key measure of success.
The ministry also cautioned against allowing commercial interests to undermine road safety.
While recognising driving schools as an important source of employment and entrepreneurship, it said business opportunities and regulation must go hand in hand.
“We cannot compromise public safety in the name of commercial activity,” the ministry said.
At the same time, it stressed that regulation should not become an unnecessary barrier preventing capable Namibians from entering or operating in the industry.
The consultation is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for driving schools, instructors and other stakeholders to identify practical challenges and propose workable solutions before the regulatory framework is finalised.
The ministry urged stakeholders to openly discuss what is working, identify weaknesses and highlight potential difficulties in implementing the proposed measures.
Ultimately, the ministry said, the reforms are intended to contribute to a broader national objective: reducing road crashes and saving lives.
“At the heart of all these discussions is one fundamental objective: saving lives on our roads,” the ministry said.
It also issued a blunt warning to prospective motorists, urging them not to use facilitators or attempt to buy driving licences.
The ministry said safer roads would only be achieved through collective responsibility among government authorities, driving schools, instructors, motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
