Namibian president announces free tertiary education from 2026

The president of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, introduced that college college students will now not be required to pay faculty charges from 2026.

She made the announcement throughout her maiden state of the nation handle on Thursday, 24 April 2025.

“FEES HAVE FALLEN,” SAYS NAMIBIAN PRESIDENT

In keeping with The Star, Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first feminine president, stated college students will now not pay tuition or registration charges in any respect public universities and technical faculties.

She stated, ” We now have heard your cries: ‘the Charges have Fallen. I’m happy to announce that from the subsequent tutorial yr, commencing 2026, tertiary training will change into 100% subsidised by the federal government.”

Nevertheless, she added that there wouldn’t be “important” further funding, elevating issues in regards to the scheme’s feasibility.

Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that within the meantime, the one contribution required from households and college students for now will probably be in direction of lodging and different associated prices.

She stated, “If we’re going to add, we aren’t going so as to add a big quantity of funds.”

The nation already presents free major and highschool training. Nevertheless, households nonetheless cowl prices of uniforms, books, and hostel charges.

AFFIRMATIVE REPOSITIONING STUDENT COMMAND (ARSC) CRITICISE NANDI-NDAITWAH’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Pupil organisation, Affirmative Repositioning Pupil Command (ARSC), criticised Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement, saying it was an attention- searching for ploy by the federal government.

Talking to BBC, the organisation stated, “There isn’t any plan, it’s only a confused announcement which raises [the] query of what [Nandi-Ndaitwah] means by tertiary training.”

Economist Tannen Groenewald stated that scrapping faculty charges with no back-up funding may end in limiting the variety of college students enrolled.

He added that there’s a risk that this might apply to college students from low-income households.

What do you consider college charges being scrapped in Namibia?

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