Kaviveterue Virere
The Students Union of Namibia (SUN) launched a nationwide petition last week.
They want Namibia’s Free Education Policy to be fully and fairly implemented.
The goal of the petition is to encourage young people, students and the general public to demand that all Namibians have equitable access to education.
The move is a reaction to the policy framework that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced during her state of the nation address (SONA).
The strategy does not benefit all students equally, even though the government has increased access by covering tuition at public institutions and vocational training facilities.
SUN noted that students relying on non-tuition assistance, Namibians studying overseas and those attending private institutions are still not included. Many young people are still marginalised as a result of the large disparities this has generated.
SUN’s legal secretary Intelligent Katire contended that these exclusions constitute indirect discrimination.
“The exclusivity of some students from the free education policy based on the institutions they attend or the inability to cover their basic needs is a clear constitution of indirect discrimination and direct violation of equal access to education under the law. That is why our demands are based on the Supreme law of the land, which obligates the State to pursue justice and equality within the Namibian constitution, particularly referencing articles 10 and 20 of the Constitution,” argued Katire.
The Namibian Constitution serves as the foundation for the Union’s demands.
While Article 20 upholds the right to education, Article 10 ensures equality before the law. SUN believes that all Namibian students should be entitled to these rights.
Three main demands are made in the petition. The policy’s first goal is inclusive eligibility, which ensures that all students – private, public and international – benefit equally. The second policy is a controlled tuition funding approach that accounts for the actual expenses of academic programmes at various universities.
Thirdly, the policy aims to cover reasonable living expenditures – the non-tuition allowance should be increased from N$17 000 to N$30 000.
Benhard Kavau, the chairperson of the SUN board, said the demands are grounded in constitutional principles.
“Inequality is reinforced by the current system, especially for students from low-income and rural backgrounds,” he said.
SUN urges changes that bring educational expenditures in line with students’ financial circumstances.
The petition will advocate for justice, equity and inclusivity in Namibia’s educational system in a peaceful, orderly and legal way.