In 1979, SWAPO (South West African People’s Organisation) requested that the Commonwealth Secretariat and International Extension College (IEC) draw up a plan for a Namibian Extension Unit (NEU). Soon afterwards, the NEU was established and operated from Zambia for Namibians in exile.
In the period before 1990, the Department of National Education (DNE) of the former dispensation provided Distance Education (DE) courses for teachers. After Independence in 1990, NEU and DNE distance education units were combined to become the Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education within the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC).
The Core Planning Group was established in 1991 and they contributed towards the production of the Report of the Commission on Higher Education, which endorsed the establishment of a distance education college. The MEC five-year plan also assigned a significant role to distance education. “Taking Education to the People” was a report written at this time that recommended the establishment of a semi-autonomous Distance Education College. The establishment of this College gained the approval of the MEC in 1993.
“Taking Education to the People”
(This statement became the famous NAMCOL slogan.)
In 1994, the Interim Development Board was appointed by Minister Nahas Hangula to assist in planning for the establishment of the College through an Act of Parliament. The new structure was to be named the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) with a remit for both distance education and face-to-face components of the Ministry’s continuing education programme.
It was then that the Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education (within the Ministry of Basic Education and Culture) was separated into two directorates:
1.Directorate of Adult and Basic Education (DABE) and
2.Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education
In 1995, APSO provided a full time, in-country technical adviser to assist in preparations for the transition. UK ODA also supported a short-term consultancy by IEC to draft a funding proposal for a staff development programme. The NAMCOL staff produced a strategic development plan, logo, new structure and staff establishment for the College between 1995 and 1997.
The first Director of NAMCOL, Mrs Frances Ferreira, was appointed in 1996, and served for ten years as the head of the College. During this time the UK ODA funded a contract for the NAMCOL-Bath Partnership project. A technical adviser was appointed to assist with staff development for distance learning materials development and production. The NAMCOL Bill was then introduced to the National Assembly.
In 1997, the negotiations with the staff to transform the College from the Ministry to a semi-autonomous body commenced. The proposed Bill proceeded through all the stages of Parliament and on the 25th of September 1997, the NAMCOL Act (Act no. 1 of 1997) came into effect. It was then that the Interim Development Board was appointed as the first Board of Governors of NAMCOL.
On the 1st of April 1998, NAMCOL separated from the Ministry, and the NAMCOL staff was formally appointed. The NAMCOL senior management then developed a new Strategic Plan. Training in Change Management took place at the head office and regions and an extension to the NAMCOL-Bath Partnership Project commenced with emphasis on planning and management development. NAMCOL opened a Resource Centre at the Yetu Yama Centre to provide access to learning materials needed for local NAMCOL learners in March 1999.
A Face to Face course in Practical English is introduced.
The Recognition and procedural agreement between NAMCOL and the Public Service Union of NAMIBIA is signed on 21 January 2000.
NAMCOL signs a memorandum of understanding for the coordination of open and distance learning in Namibia with UNAM and the then Polytechnic of Namibia on 17 February 2000.
Open mode of studies is introduced which combines the strengths of both the distance education and face to face modes and equal opportunities to all learners.
Commonwealth Youth Programme Secretariat in conjunction with Huddersfield University granted NAMCOL the status of Partner Institution.
New course materials for our ASE market were developed for 6 subjects in Grade 10 and two subjects in Grade 12.
English Communication Course, designed to cover three different levels is introduced.
NAMCOL’s first internal Quality Assurance Audit is conducted between February and April 2003.
A one-year certificate programme in Local Government Administration is established.
Namcol’s 10th Anniversary
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is introduced for the first time at the college.
Two new professional programmes were introduced during 2010 academic year. The Diploma in Education for Development was officially launched in May 2010 with an intake of 67; and a Certificate in Community based work with children and youth with 77 registered students.
NAMCOL signs agreement with UNISA to use their study materials for the delivery of the Diploma in Education for Development.
The college entered in a partnership agreement with Eros Girl’s School to provide study materials for the Certificate in Early Childhood Development (CECD) programme.
Inauguration of Traffic Lights June 2022
Inauguration of first Double-sided Billboard in Namibia June 2023