Allexer Namundjembo
The Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) says although it understands concerns over the affordability of its Grade 11 and Grade 12 improvement courses, it cannot offer free tuition under its current funding model.
However, the institution says it remains committed to supporting financially disadvantaged learners through scholarships and other affordability measures.
The response follows concerns raised by learners, including orphans and other vulnerable groups, who argue that tuition fees remain beyond the reach of many Namibians seeking to improve their school results and access further education or employment opportunities.
In a written response to the Windhoek Observer, Namcol chief executive officer Ngepathimo Kadhila acknowledged that financial hardship continues to prevent many prospective learners from accessing education.
“We recognise that financial constraints remain a significant barrier for many Namibians seeking to improve their Grade 11 and Grade 12 results,” Kadhila said.
“As a college committed to expanding access to education and lifelong learning, we continually explore sustainable ways to ensure that deserving learners are not excluded from educational opportunities due to financial hardship.”
Responding to calls for free tuition, Namcol said it operates under the ministry of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture and receives a government grant to deliver its programmes.
The institution said its fee structure is determined within that funding framework.
However, Kadhila stressed that the issue of affordability remains under discussion.
“This is not a closed matter for us. The concerns raised by learners are taken seriously, and we continue to engage internally and with government and sector partners,” he said.
The college pointed to its Secondary Education Scholarship Scheme as its primary intervention to assist learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Now in its seventh year, the programme is implemented in partnership with Regional Councils, the Disability Council of Namibia, and the Namibia Correctional Service. Successful applicants receive full tuition and examination registration fee support.
Namcol encouraged orphans and other financially disadvantaged learners to approach their regional councils or the college directly to determine whether they qualify for assistance.
According to Kadhila, the scholarship process is administered internally using approved eligibility criteria to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency.
The college also defended its Open and Distance Learning model, saying it is designed to make education more affordable than conventional full-time schooling.
Learners study largely at their own pace through learning centres rather than attending daily classroom lessons, reducing costs associated with transport, boarding, and school infrastructure.
Namcol said it deliberately keeps tuition fees below the actual cost of delivering its programmes instead of charging on a commercial basis.
The institution also highlighted its nationwide network of learning centres, saying these reduce travel and accommodation costs, particularly for learners in rural communities.
Kadhila said the scholarship programme, affordable fee structure, and decentralised learning centres form part of a broader strategy to widen access to education.
“Access and affordability remain an active priority for us, not a settled matter,” he said.
“We will continue working with government and strategic partners to identify innovative and sustainable mechanisms that enable more Namibians, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, to realise their educational aspirations.”
The response comes a week after the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Student Command criticised the government’s decision not to subsidise learners who enrol at Namcol or other institutions to improve their Grade 11 and Grade 12 results, arguing that the move undermines the constitutional right to education.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, AR Student Command interim head of secretariat Intelligent Katire said the government’s free education policy should benefit all learners, including those seeking to improve their examination results.
Katire’s remarks followed the ministry of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture’s decision not to extend financial assistance to learners rewriting subjects at Namcol, saying the measure was financially unsustainable and had failed to improve academic outcomes when it was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Katire, the introduction of free education at both basic and tertiary levels was intended to uphold Articles 20 and 21 of the Namibian Constitution, which guarantee access to education.
“Free education for both basic and tertiary education was introduced to honour, respect and acknowledge the Constitution, whose emphasis is on effective inclusivity for every Namibian child. Whether academically gifted or not, everybody has the right to free education,” he said.
He questioned why learners seeking to improve their results should be excluded from the government’s education subsidy programme.
“If subsidised free education is going to exclude Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners who are improving their results through Namcol, then what good is the term ‘democracy’ in our Constitution? Whoever is advocating that these learners should only depend on their parents’ funds, if their parents can afford it, should be held accountable for directly violating the Namibian Constitution,” Katire said.
He argued that many learners fail examinations because of circumstances beyond their control, including poverty, social challenges, and weaknesses within the education system.
“Learners fail due to many reasons caused by the government. Some come from vulnerable households, others are traumatised by their communities, while some receive poor-quality education from teachers and the school system at large. All these factors influence how they approach examinations,” he said.
Katire also rejected the notion that government-funded education should only benefit learners who perform academically.
“Are we saying free education is just for the smart kids?” he asked.
His remarks followed comments by education minister Sanet Steenkamp, who told the Windhoek Observer that the ministry is not considering paying for learners who improve their subjects at Namcol or any other institution.
Steenkamp said the government had previously funded such learners during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the initiative came at a significant cost and did not result in improved academic performance.
She added that the ministry’s priorities remain early childhood education and sustaining tertiary education, making it financially unsustainable to subsidise learners rewriting subjects.
