RUNDU – The National African Students Association (NASA) has criticised what it terms ‘exclusionary’ subsidised tertiary education funding by the government.
In a press statement this week, NASA advocated for grade 11 learners to be considered for a degree under the subsidised funding system.
The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) on Friday announced that only high school graduates with 26 points and an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level (Grade 12) qualification will be funded to pursue a degree through the government’s subsidised funding model.
The funding model now indicates that all degree programmes will require 26 points and a Grade 12 certificate with no less than two D symbols and a C symbol or better for English in Grade 11 to qualify for subsidised funding. The previous NSFAF method allowed Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) Grade 11 pupils to pursue a degree at universities.
NASA acting president Elisabeth Silas said: “While the existing framework allows Grade 11 (Ordinary Level) candidates access to diploma-level programmes and below, NASA raises concern over the restriction that prevents suitably qualified Grade 11 learners from being considered for a degree (NQF Level 7) under the subsidised funding system.”
“The recognition of Grade 11 within the national education structure necessitates that learner progression be determined by institutional entry criteria, as opposed to limitations imposed by funding policies,’’ she said.
Silas further lamented that: “NASA therefore calls upon government to review and revise this policy to ensure that qualifying Grade 11 candidates are afforded equitable access to subsidised funding for degree programmes. Any policy review or amendment should be communicated clearly and timeously to ensure transparency, fairness, and coherence between education and funding policies.”
