The government is moving to tighten oversight of Namibia’s driving school industry amid concerns that unqualified instructors, unsafe training vehicles and inconsistent teaching standards could be undermining efforts to improve road safety.
Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi said shortcomings in the sector have highlighted the need for stronger registration, inspection, monitoring and enforcement of driving schools and instructors.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation workshop in Swakopmund on Monday, Nekundi said the government wants to establish a regulatory system that protects learner drivers and ensures operators meet minimum national standards.
“At the same time, we must acknowledge that there are challenges within the sector which include differences in the quality of driver training, inconsistencies in operating practices, concerns regarding the competency and professional conduct of some instructors, the condition and suitability of training vehicles, and the need for stronger oversight and accountability,” Nekundi said.
The proposed framework would require driving schools to be properly registered and instructors to be qualified and certified, while vehicles used for training would have to meet prescribed safety and suitability requirements.
The government also wants to establish more consistent training standards to reduce differences in the quality of instruction received by learner drivers across the country.
“Our objective must be to establish a system in which a person seeking driving instruction can have confidence that the driving school is properly registered, the instructor is properly qualified and certified, the training vehicle is safe and suitable, and the training provided meets an acceptable national standard,” Nekundi said.
The framework will focus on five areas: professionalism and accountability, competent instructors, safe training vehicles, consistent training standards, and effective and fair regulation.
Nekundi said Namibia already has legislation governing driving instructors under the Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999, which requires anyone providing driving instruction or supervision for payment to hold a prescribed driving instructor’s certificate.
The law also provides for requirements relating to instructor certification, training vehicles, instructor duties and the suspension or cancellation of certificates.
However, Nekundi indicated that regulation needs to be backed by effective enforcement, including registration procedures, inspections, record-keeping and continuous monitoring.
He said legitimate driving schools should not be forced to compete with operators working outside the regulatory framework.
The Minister acknowledged that driving schools provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities but warned that commercial interests could not take precedence over road safety.
“We cannot compromise public safety in the name of commercial activity,” Nekundi said.
“At the same time, we must ensure that regulation does not become a barrier that unfairly prevents capable Namibians from participating in this industry. Our approach must therefore be one of fairness, transparency, inclusivity and accountability.”
The stakeholder consultations are expected to shape the proposed regulatory framework as the government seeks tighter control over who can operate driving schools, who can provide paid driving instruction and the standards learners should receive before obtaining driving licences.
