Auleria Wakudumo
The National Council Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development has moved to clear up widespread confusion surrounding the University of Namibia’s admission requirements, especially for learners who complete school at grade 11 with NSSCO certificates.
Many families believed that grade 11 marks the end of the road for university dreams, but Unam has now clarified that this is not the case. During an engagement with the committee, Unam Vice-Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu stressed that the university does not reject grade 11 learners.
Instead, these learners are admitted into programmes that align with their qualification level under the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). A grade 11 NSSCO certificate is classified at Level 3, which qualifies applicants for diploma programmes, while degree programmes begin at higher levels. “Allowing grade 11 learners into degree studies would damage academic quality, however, they are still welcome at UNAM through appropriate entry routes,” he said. The committee’s report highlights that much of the confusion stems from earlier public statements by the Ministry of Education suggesting that grade 11 learners qualify for higher education admission, including at UNAM. This contradiction has left many parents and learners unsure about what opportunities are truly available.
The committee expressed concern that mixed messaging has created false expectations and unnecessary anxiety among learners completing grade 11. “To support learners who do not progress to Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level, UNAM has proposed a one-year bridging programme intended to strengthen academic readiness and give students a pathway into diploma or degree studies. However, the programme has not yet been fully implemented due to funding challenges,” Matengu explained. He stated that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) currently does not provide financial aid to bridging students, as its policies require a minimum of 25 points. This leaves many academically capable learners unable to afford the opportunity. Matengu emphasised that for the bridging programme to work, government support is essential. This includes re-skilling teachers to improve AS subject performance, increasing the number of schools offering AS-level education, and widening subject options to include more fields such as humanities and social sciences.
Poor career guidance
The committee also found that poor career guidance in schools contributes significantly to the problem. Many learners choose subject combinations that later disqualify them from university programmes, simply because they were not properly advised. UNAM reported that some learners wanting to study law, medicine, or science programmes were unable to qualify because of mismatched subjects. Unam plans to work directly with schools to provide better career information. The vice-chancellor also suggested introducing aptitude assessments as early as grade seven to help learners choose subjects aligned with their strengths. Despite the challenges, the committee observed that Unam is expanding academic offerings in line with Namibia’s development goals, introducing programmes in nuclear science, oil and gas engineering, artificial intelligence, forensic sciences, green energy, and agricultural engineering. These initiatives are part of the university’s effort to prepare young Namibians for new industries emerging under Vision 2030. The committee stressed the urgent need for clearer, unified communication between the Ministry of Education and UNAM, so that learners receive accurate information about their academic pathways. It warned that without stronger alignment, many grade 11 learners may continue to feel unfairly excluded. Matengu assured the nation that Unam remains committed to supporting learners at all levels. “Our position is very clear. grade 11 learners are eligible to study at UNAM, and we are committed to guiding them into the right pathways where they can succeed,” he assured. -wakudumoauleria@gmail.com