Namibia faces numerous challenges with regard to the provision of education at different
levels. Key amongst these is the provision of secondary education to those who cannot
be accommodated through conventional schools primarily because of their limited
capacity. To expand access and increase capacity at the secondary level, the government
established the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) through an Act of
Parliament in 1997. NAMCOL is a single-mode open and distance learning (ODL)
institution offering the programme of secondary education to those wishing to study for
the Junior Secondary Certificate (which is third year of the junior secondary phase) and
the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (which is the exit level of the school career).
The governing Act also directs the college to develop and offer programmes that would
address the diverse training needs of the country. An average annual enrolment of 25,000
makes NAMCOL the largest educational institution in the country. The overall headcount
at the secondary level equates to 40% of all learners enrolled in the secondary education
phase in the country