By: Dwight Links
Namibia ranks the fourth-highest on the continent for having participation in formal, non-formal and informal education and training.
This ranking was extrapolated from the World of Work report, where a Sustainable Development Goal indicator measures how much training exists for those aged between 15 and 64.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says that lifelong learning should become a strategic policy priority for countries.
The ILO states this in their Lifelong Learning report of 2026.
“Lifelong learning is not a new concept, but it has never been more important. In the face of rapid technological innovation, the green transition, demographic shifts and evolving patterns of globalisation and work, the ability of individuals and societies to keep learning and adapting to new realities is a critical foundation for inclusion and resilience,” the report outlines.
Namibia scores 22% of the population participating in these formats of training. The average, according to the report, is 17% of the population.
The second indicator, based on the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, points to more favourable training opportunities within the formal economy, which represents only a minority of workers in Africa.
“On average, 46.1% of full-time permanent workers in formal firms in sub-Saharan Africa received employer-provided training during the fiscal year, compared with 37.6% in Northern Africa and 53.1% in the rest of the world,” the ILO says.
BLEAK PICTURE
However, the report states that this should not be a short-term project.
“It should not just be used as a tool to increase productivity and facilitate sustainable growth, but also as a systemic enabler of personal and societal advancement, equity and decent work in the twenty-first century,” adds the ILO.
On connecting policy and real-world outcomes, the report states that “Despite the growing policy focus on lifelong learning and skills development, there remains a striking gap in comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date research that captures the full scope of lifelong learning.”
According to the ILO, this is because much of the existing evidence remains scattered and overemphasises initial formal education, overlooking the diverse and dynamic ways people acquire and apply skills throughout life.
The report states this approach underscores the need to rethink lifelong learning beyond formal education and training.
A new policy has to place learning and the recipients at the core of new approaches.
“This takes place in many settings. Yet, in this context, participation in lifelong learning beyond the classroom lags behind and remains uneven, and the systems that support it are often fragmented, under-resourced and poorly coordinated,” indicates the international organisation.
CONTINENTAL IMPACT
Lifelong learning for Africa is deemed as the needed intervention for the continent’s growth.
“Lifelong learning and skills development are key policy priorities for Africa, fostering resilience, innovation, decent work and inclusion in the context of structural transformations and persistent labour market challenges,” finds the report.
Moreover, while training provision in formal firms in sub-Saharan Africa is below the level observed elsewhere, it remains relatively widespread compared with the much lower participation rates captured by the broader individual-level indicators.
At the same time, the regional average again conceals substantial diversity across countries.
Employer-provided training reaches only 20.7% of permanent workers in formal firms in Niger and 22% in Burundi, but exceeds 60% in Liberia, Mozambique, South Africa and Senegal, and reaches 76.6% in Lesotho.
