New learner’s licence system records 14% pass rate
The Namibian government is set to invest N$25 million in modernisation of the country's learner’s licence testing system, marking one of the most significant technological upgrades to road traffic services in recent years. Speaking at the official launch of the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing Method and Book & Pay System in Okahandja on Monday, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi announced that government has already spent approximately N$1.2 million on the pilot phase at the Okahandja NaTIS Centre, with a further N$25 million earmarked for a nationwide rollout.
The combined investment will see the system extended to all 43 NaTIS centres across Namibia, supported by 288 computerised testing units. Nekundi described the initiative as a major step towards building a modern, technology-driven transport sector while restoring credibility to the learner’s licence testing process. The newly launched computerised testing method replaces traditional paper-based learner’s licence examinations, a move expected to eliminate test paper leakages, strengthen data security and provide immediate results to applicants.
According to Nekundi, the system has already undergone testing and validation and is now ready for implementation across the country. The minister said the new approach introduces a secure and standardised testing environment that will improve transparency and fairness while increasing public confidence in the licensing process. Alongside the computerised testing platform, government also launched the Book & Pay System, a digital service allowing applicants to schedule tests remotely, select their preferred NaTIS office, choose a convenient date and time, and make payments electronically.
The Roads Authority has been piloting the system at the Okahandja NaTIS Centre over the past two weeks. During that period, 450 applicants were assessed through the computerised platform. The pilot recorded a pass rate of 14%, a figure Nekundi said demonstrates the effectiveness of the new system in safeguarding the integrity of learner’s licence examinations. He noted that the lower pass rate should not be viewed negatively, but rather as evidence that applicants are now being tested under conditions where success depends solely on their knowledge of road rules and traffic regulations.
The Okahandja centre currently offers four testing sessions per day, accommodating up to 18 applicants per session. The structure is intended to maintain quality control while gradually expanding access to testing services. Following the successful pilot, the next phase of implementation will commence at the Gobabis, Karibib and Keetmanshoop NaTIS centres before progressively expanding to the remaining facilities countrywide. Full implementation is expected by March 2027.
Nekundi further stressed that there will be a retest,“As we move forward, anyone found driving irresponsibly may be subjected to stricter retesting measures. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and all road users must play their part in reducing accidents and saving lives,” he said.
For motorists, the investment promises a future where long queues, paper-based examinations and concerns over test integrity could soon become a thing of the past.
