Namibia has officially launched the second phase of the Africa-Asia Youth Coding Initiative, a significant partnership aimed at embedding coding and artificial intelligence (AI) skills into the nation's formal education system. This collaboration, involving UNESCO, the Chinese coding education firm CODEMAO, and Namibia's Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture, builds on the success of its initial phase, which benefited over 3,000 young people and 350 educators. Phase II sets an ambitious goal to fully integrate coding and AI into the national curriculum by 2029, ensuring widespread access to these 21st-century skills for all ICT teachers and students.
The initiative directly supports Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which aims to increase access to modern technologies from the current 28% of the population to 70% by 2030. To facilitate practical learning, 200 OPPO tablets pre-loaded with CODEMAO's coding software have been distributed to eight selected schools. UNESCO's strategy for this phase focuses on sustainable impact through curriculum reform and teacher training, fostering innovation and problem-solving skills. Namibia's commitment to integrating these digital skills is further highlighted by its hosting of the "Tech Tactics in Education" conference in September 2025, positioning the country as a hub for discussions on AI policy and workforce readiness.