WINDHOEK – The Ministry of Education will soon introduce a new funding framework for tertiary institutions that it hopes would quell the usual complaints of unequal government funding to tertiary institutions.
Dr David Namwandi, the Minister of Education explained that the new funding structure, which has already been approved by Cabinet last year will be fair across all higher institutions funded by the government. “I have personally supervised and presided over the implementation and introduction of the funding framework of our institutions. It has been approved by Cabinet and will be implemented this year. This framework will be fair and no institution should complain, because they will be treated fairly,” Namwandi said last week. In 2013 government spent 23.7 percent of its annual expenditure on education, which is N$10.7 billion of the national budget. According to Namwandi, this is a huge investment by all standards when one considers that there are a number of other competing social challeges the country is facing. “The ministry has increased its spending considerably over the past few years’ allocation to the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF). Given the realisation that there is a growing need to support students who do not have the means for studying at universities. This is a clear manifestation that our government is a caring government, thus wants to train as many Namibians as it possibly can. I know that higher education institutions will continue saying they are not receiving sufficient funding, however, that issue is likely to be put to rest with the introduction of the new funding framework,” he said.
Also, the education minister underscored the importance of appreciating the enormous investment government makes in providing higher education infrastructure, as well as investments in individual students.
He says its only when one understands that that one begins to appreciate how privileged one is in being able to access higher education. At the same occasion the Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Dr Tjama Tjivikua, said this year will mark the official rechristening of the Polytechnic of Namibia to the University of Science and Technology.
Tjivikua said the Polytechnic has adopted the theme – “Universities as transformation agents for economies.”
He said public universities can only be or become a true transformation agent in the economy with the right support and resourcing, especially from the government.
“In fact, its own transformation hinges largely on the resourcing required as provided for in our budget. Fix the funding and the Namibian people will find no valid excuses why their children have to necessarily study abroad. It surely wouldn’t be because we don’t have quality education or prestigious universities in Namibia,” Tjivikua said. Tjivikua also informed the minister that the Polytechnic is in dire need of a hall where events such as academic openings could take place. Currently, most events take place in the open near the Poly Heights flats.
“It is disheartening to me to hear that our institution which is 100 percent government-owned is struggling with a hall. I understand it will cost N$25 000 to set it up, but let’s not forget that money is hard to come by. Government is however doing everything it can to ensure institutions are properly funded. I promise to take up the issue,” Namwandi said.
By Albertina Nakale