Rudolf Gaiseb 

While most youth organisations have expressed satisfaction with the subsidised tertiary education model, others opine there is a lot to be desired. 

Last week, the education ministry widened access to the education subsidy, including the Namibia Senior Secondary CertificateOrdinaryLevel(NSSCO)(Grade 11) in the subsidised tertiary education funding model. Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) spokesperson Jessy Abraham said this directive shows the government’s willingness to hold institutions accountable in the rollout of fully subsidised tertiary education. 

“Government must establish clear timelines, monitoring systems and consequences for non-compliance. 

The students and trainees cannot be left to fight individual battles with institutions over money that rightfully belongs to them,” she said yesterday. 

She noted that the increase of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) non-tuition fee support threshold from N$100 000 to N$300 000 annual household income is a major victory that will benefit thousands of students from low- and middle-income families. Adding their voice to the discourse was the Student Union of Namibia (SUN) through their legal secretary Intelligent Katire. She acknowledged the healthy partnership between the ministry and student movement, which encourages youth participation in the nation’s developmental agenda. 

“Most importantly, it tells students that their voices matter and that engagement works,” Katire said. 

Questions 

Additionally, the Popular Democratic Movement Youth League (PDMYL) also welcomed the removal of registration and tuition fees for qualifying students. 

The PDMYL is, however, concerned about the criteria used to define “qualifying students” and the exclusion of returning, part-time and self-funded students who are already “burdened” by debt and economic hardship. 

Spokesperson Inajovandu Katjepunda, however, asserted that the policy is selective as opposed to being inclusive, equitable and transparent, and creates new forms of inequality. 

While the ministry has placed student accommodation in the students’ hands, Katjepunda told New Era that the “new arrangement leaves several critical questions unanswered regarding learning materials, meals, transport and the long-term sustainability of institutions under this model”. 

The ministry will also provide beneficiaries with non-tuition fees of N$17 000 as a loan. 

Katjepunda, however, said meaningful engagement with students, student representative bodies and tertiary institutions is necessary to clarify the framework, ensure adequate funding and adopt a rounded approach that supports students throughout their academic journey. 

Nothing’s free 

Meanwhile, Landless Peoples Movement youth command leader Duminga Ndala said there is no free tertiary education. 

“It was a facade, perhaps, to fool people into voting for the Swapo Party in the local and regional elections. I would say it was political standing,” she asserted. She added that the ministry keeps on changing the funding modality, which shows there was no thorough research or consultation with the appropriate stakeholders. Last Friday assured that it has engaged “extensively” with key stakeholders to ensure a smooth and inclusive implementation, including regulatory and training institutions. 

Ndala added, “It’s obvious that the country is not in the financial position to fully implement the tertiary education. This is why there has been a shift in how funding will take place.” 

The non-tuition household income threshold has also been pushed up to N$300 000. The ministry also directed institutions to refund fees charged prior to the announcement last Friday. Preceding this, N$814 million was approved for the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture during the FY2025/26 Mid-Year Budget Review on 21 October 2025. 

Of this amount, N$663 million is to cater for registration fees and tuition fees for the first quarter (January-March 2026) under the Subsidised Free Tertiary Education. 

Ndala believes the ministry should have just implemented free tertiary education at public institutions for three years under a pilot programme and seen how it goes. 

“If it becomes a success, then perhaps they’re supposed to also extend it to private institutions,” she added. 

“This blanket approach puts us in a difficult position as stakeholders of education. It’s important that before we implement anything, there should be thorough research, proper consultation and whether this programme speaks to the realities of our country,” she noted. -rrgaiseb@nepc.com