Jaenique Swartz
Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Itah Kandji-Murangi is pleading with all aspiring students to fulfil their true potential.
She stressed the importance of students taking up fields of study that will carry the Namibian economy, and that will not disadvantage students and result in them sitting without employment, post-graduation.
“The choices we make as we enter university, they determine our career paths, but also determine our eligibility to enter the workforce. No field is inferior to the other, but not all fields are required to move our economy forward,” observed Kandji-Murangi during the official opening of the 2024 online applications of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) last week. She said it is important for higher education institutions to guide their students throughout the process of seeking placement, and more importantly for prospective students to ensure these bodies are accredited and recognised by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA).
During the announcement, acting NSFAF CEO Kennedy Kandume expressed the vital importance of beneficiaries repaying their loans, as this repayment allows the entity to assist more students who need financial assistance.
He said they noted a surge in applicants, recording a 30% increase in the last academic year, and project a higher increase for the 2024 academic year. Kandume indicated that the decision the body made to pay NSFAF beneficiaries a monthly stipend of their non-tuition fees has significantly aided in the students being able to meet their basic needs and achieve great academic success. The NSFAF 2024 applications opened on 29 November 2023 and closes 29 February 2024.
The financial assistance body wishes to inform all applicants to use this three-month window to apply to secure placement, and to ensure all correct procedures are followed.
So far, 26 applications have been made. All relevant information will be on the official NSFAF website at www.nsfaf.na, or to contact the provided telephone numbers at 061 434 6000/6038.
– jaeniqueswartz@icloud.com