Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Minister of Higher Education, Innovation and Technology Itah Kandji-Murangi wants the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to revert to the higher education ministry’s control.
According to the minister, the separation of the two entities has led to challenges, including a bloated and costly executive structure.
Speaking in Parliament last week while motivating the NSFAF amendment bill, she said the move aims to improve administration.
She acknowledged NSFAF’s achievements since operating independently but noted that it also brought complications, such as an automated application process and financial accountability issues.
“Problems of financial accountability through formal audits recur, exponential growth of eligible beneficiaries, a limited annual budget allocation, insignificant and stagnant recovery efforts and others,” she said.
Kandji-Murangi requested parliament to approve the reintegration, a decision the cabinet already endorsed in 2021.
“In 2021 a cabinet decision was issued to reintegrate NSFAF in the ministry. Consultative meetings to pave the way for the reintegration process were held with the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Prime Minister, Tertiary Institutions’ Student Leaders, Student Associations’ Leadership, and other stakeholders,” she said.
Kandji-Murang explained that once NSFAF is back under the ministry, it will improve accountability, remove its juristic status, place it as a department within the ministry, and ring-fence the fund.
According to her, the ministry will also closely monitor its operations, create a central student database, rename the NSFAF board as the NSFAF Selection and Advisory Board, and align its functions.
“Create an efficient one-stop shop for the national human capital education, training and financing, improve NSFAF’s financial accountability, develop and expand NSFAF into a comprehensive inclusive student fund with different funding options,” said the minister.
She urged lawmakers to consider the amendment with a long-term view and ensure human resources instruments are inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all deserving Namibians.
