Windhoek
The DTA Youth League (DTAYL) says the increasing costs for a university education are agonizing for students without bursaries and access to loans.
“In recent weeks we have seen the rise of a student movement under the banner #VarsityLockDown as students across the country unite in an effort to address the continuing struggle to pay for tuition fees at tertiary institutions in the country, particularly the larger lump sum payments required at registration time,” stated Bensen Katjirijova the secretary general of the DTAYL.
He says for those students without bursaries the decision to allow students to register without having to pay a registration fee should be applauded.
Katjirijova said he witnessed firsthand the ‘lockdown’ last week at the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST), adding: ”As a young Namibian I was proud to witness that irrespective of my political affiliation or other potentially divisive factors. Namibian students bonded together to address the growing concern that is the affordability and accessibility of tertiary education for the average Namibian household.”
He says that it is at a time such as this that the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation should publicly and concisely state what measures have been put in place to get the situation under control.
“Clearly greater consultation is required to get the tertiary institutions and the ministry on the same page. Additionally, and I believe this is the greater concern, what measures will be put in place to ensure that the outstanding debts from previous years are paid? Will NSFAF be able to cover these outstanding debts or is there an alternative solution? This is where a comprehensive all-encompassing plan is needed, one that will safeguard us from being in this position again in July or next year at registration time,” he noted.
“It goes without saying that tertiary institutions need money to operate at an optimum level and one can also not permit a situation where we allow our tertiary institutions to run into financial difficulties as they seek to strategically position themselves in the academic world,” Katjirijova stated.
The DTAYL supports NANSO and Namibian students’ drive for more affordable and accessible tertiary education.