WINDHOEK – Namibian students studying in eastern Ukraine have been moved to western parts of that country, as the Ukrainian government continues to battle pro-Russian separatists in the east.
Many Namibians studying in the east, mostly Kiev, had their last semester cut short in June after Ukraine announced that it could not guarantee the safety of foreigners in the affected areas.
The new semester for most Ukrainian universities kicked off yesterday, but Namibians, except those studying in Crimea, have been warned not to return to the eastern part of the country.
The majority of Namibians studying in Ukraine are on government scholarships and it was feared that those studying in the east would quit their studies because of a crisis that has persisted since May this year.
New Era understands that a contingent of more than 100 students were still in the country as of yesterday, as their agents continued to secure them placements at universities in the west of the European country.
Speaking to New Era yesterday, Minister of Education Dr Dawid Namwandi confirmed the transfer arrangements and indicated that universities in Ukraine have responded positively to government’s transfer requests.
“All Namibian students studying in Ukraine are now allowed to go back and continue their studies,” the minister said with much relief.
“Arrangements were made with universities in Ukraine and they have accepted the transfer of our students from the troubled areas to the more peaceful areas. The students will continue with their studies where they left off,” said Namwandi.
The permanent secretary of the same ministry was already instructed to communicate this information to the Namibian embassy in Russia and the affected students, the minister said.
“Return tickets were booked for all of the students who were evacuated. That was done because it would be much cheaper than buying one-way tickets. If there is a student without a return ticket then it was perhaps just an oversight,” he said.
Asked about the situation in Ukraine, he said: “War is very unpredictable but we hope all will be well with our students.”
A Namibian student who spoke to New Era yesterday on condition of anonymity confirmed that government has communicated the transfer arrangements.
“So far we are not sure if we are going to continue where we left off with our studies, or if we will be required to do extra modules,” said the student.
The student said that over 100 Namibian students will be studying at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, situated in western Ukraine.
The university is situated in Ivano city in northwest Ukraine and is a leading higher education establishment of the region of the classical type with a higher accreditation level. The university is one of the few medical universities in Ukraine to be conferred the honour of being designated as a “national medical university” by the government of Ukraine.
Government spent close to N$5 million on return flight tickets for about 320 Namibia students whose studies it is funding in Ukraine and the Crimea peninsula. The students were evacuated before Ukraine held its presidential elections on May 25.