The Students’ Union of Namibia (SUN) has praised the University of Namibia for its efforts to accommodate students who did not meet the initial admission criteria.
“We believe this will allow those who did not meet the criteria to have an opportunity at university while they upgrade their subjects. We also think it could not have done any harm to a university if they considered admitting grade 11s like they did in 2022. We urge students to take the opportunity and utilise it with maximum effort,” Shikesho Natangwe, SUN secretary for higher education stated.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) spokesperson, Nangolo Dorothea, could not comment yesterday, as she was in a meeting at the time of contacting her.
Conditional admission will be considered for first-year students into the new curriculum degree programmes, as Unam approved new standard admission criteria for applicants.
Unam spokesperson, Simon Namesho said the conditional admissions were decided and passed on 12 January.
“They are applicable to learners who sat for 2022 examinations as well as learners who sat for exams prior to 2021,” he noted.
In a memo issued by the office of the registrar on Friday, Unam management resolved that applicants who have obtained 25 or 26 points with at least two advanced subsidiary (AS) or higher level subjects (minimum E symbol) and minimum C in English in the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSCO) NSSCO will be admitted.
However, such students should meet all the programme-specific subject grades and will be admitted on condition that the student either upgrade his or her school results in order to meet the normal admission criteria within the 2023 academic year while being enrolled conditionally as a first-year student.
The other resolution is a student must pass the first year, such that one receives an annual result code “pass first year” at the end of the 2023 academic year.
If none of these conditions are met, Unam decided the student will not be registered for the 2024 academic year.
Also, Unam resolved applicants who have obtained at least 27 points with at least two AS or higher level subjects (minimum E symbol) but have one symbol lower NSSCO symbol such as English D and or other programme specific grade requirements will be admitted on certain conditions.
For one to be admitted, the student must either upgrade his or her school results in those particular subjects in order to meet the normal admission criteria within the 2023 academic year, while being enrolled conditionally as a first-year student.
Alternatively, must pass all modules related to the school subject(s) in which the required grades obtained were not met.
“If none of these conditions are met, the student will not be registered for the 2024 academic year. No conditional admission will be considered for professional programmes with higher admission criteria. No conditional admission will be considered for old curriculum programmes or new curriculum diploma programmes,” Unam directed.
In addition, conditional admission will be considered for first-year students into the new bachelor of education in secondary education degree programmes.
This applies those applicants must have obtained 28 or 29 points with at least two AS or higher level subjects (minimum E symbol) and minimum NSSCO English C symbol, and meet all the programme-specific school subject grade requirements.
Students will also be admitted on condition that they either upgrade their school results to meet the normal admission criteria within the 2023 academic year while being enrolled conditionally as first-year students.
They too should pass the first year, such that one receives an annual result code ‘pass first year’ at the end of the 2023 academic year. Failure to meet these conditions, such student will not be registered for the 2024 academic year.
First-year students’ registration started on 16 January and will end on 31 January.
Students are advised to see their provisional admission letters received by email for the respective venues, requirements, and registration process.
Classes for the new curriculum kick off on 30 January while the old curriculum commences on 15 February.
Senior students’ registration starts on 16 January to 14 February. Their classes start on 15 February.
Unam announced there will be no late registration period.