Patience Makwele
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has directed higher education institutions to allow Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)-funded students to write examinations and access their academic results while funding processes are being finalised.
The decision comes after weeks of uncertainty over delayed student funding payments and growing calls from student organisations for urgent intervention.
In a letter dated 29 May and addressed to vice-chancellors, heads of institutions and TVET centre managers, executive director Erastus Haitengela instructed institutions to allow both continuing beneficiaries and newly approved students to sit for examinations and receive their results.
Haitengela said the ministry has prioritised the processing of payments for continuing students and has already started releasing funds.
He said the delays were caused by a high number of applications, the implementation of the subsidised tertiary education funding model (STEFM) and the integration of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) into the ministry.
According to Haitengela, the ministry is processing about 50 000 continuing beneficiaries and another 50 000 new applicants.
This brings the total number of student funding records requiring validation and administration to nearly 100 000.
As of 29 May, 31 749 first-year students had received subsidised award letters.
The remaining applications were still being verified because of missing information and outstanding documents.
At a press conference in Windhoek on Monday, Students Union of Namibia (SUN) board chairperson Benhard Kavau welcomed the directive.
“Students must go and write their examinations. No one must block you. Your union fought for you, and we believe this has been communicated to all institutions of higher learning,” said Kavau.
He said many students are still facing financial difficulties because non-tuition allowances have not yet been paid.
“We don’t want students to collapse. We don’t want any student to commit suicide because of financial hardships. The funds must be released urgently,” he said.
SUN spokesperson Ottilie Andreas also welcomed the decision and urged institutions not to withhold examinations or academic results from affected students.
“Students are already struggling. They should not be punished for a process that is beyond their control,” Andreas said.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), however, said the ministry’s announcement does not fully address students’ concerns.
Following a National Students Caucus meeting held at the Namibia University of Science and Technology on 28 May, Nanso president Dorothea Nangolo said students remain frustrated by delays in tuition and non-tuition payments.
“Nanso has taken note of the ministerial statement, including the apology extended to students, trainees and institutions. In the students’ view, the statement is devoid of any actionable steps to ensure that students and trainees receive their tuition and non-tuition fees with urgency,” Nangolo stated.
She said students need more than assurances while facing immediate financial challenges.
“An apology does not allow a student to write examinations when their institution requires payment towards tuition fees. A statement equally does not allow a struggling student to access an examination room when they do not have transport fare, food or accommodation,” she added.
Nanso has called on the government to settle all outstanding tuition and non-tuition payments by close of business on 3 June.
Nanso warned that failure to do so could lead to a student protest at Government Park on 5 June.
“Nanso is clear; this is not a political statement. The students and trainees are ready to demand what is rightfully theirs. Student funding is not a privilege; it is a national priority and commitment that must be upheld,” Nangolo said.
Students interviewed by the Windhoek Observer said the directive provides relief but does not solve their financial difficulties.
A second-year student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said many students have spent weeks worrying about whether they would be allowed to write examinations.
“The uncertainty has been stressful. We have been preparing for exams while not knowing if we would even be allowed into the examination venue. At least now we can focus on our studies even though some of us are expected to sit for exams tomorrow while others have already started today,” the student said.
University of Namibia (Unam) student Johanna Mwandingi said the delay in non-tuition payments remains a serious concern.
“Writing exams is important, but many students still do not have money for food, transport or accommodation. We hope the payments are processed soon because the financial pressure is becoming unbearable,” Mwandingi said.
In a separate statement, Haitengela acknowledged the frustration caused by delays in payments and the finalisation of student awards.
He apologised for the impact on students and institutions and said officials are working to speed up application processing, improve system efficiency and release outstanding payments.
