N$100 000 income limit for full free tertiary funding
The approved free tertiary education programme, set to begin next year, will lower the parental income threshold for full coverage from N$500 000 to N$100 000, ensuring only the most financially vulnerable students receive the subsidy. The programme also sets a non-tuition loan ceiling of N$17 000 per student per year.
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp announced the implementation framework during a press briefing yesterday at Namcol’s Nahas Angula Hall, formalising President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s pledge for free tertiary education, first made in her maiden state of the nation address on 24 April.
Steenkamp explained that students whose parents earn N$100 000 or less will qualify for full free tertiary support, covering tuition, registration and accommodation. Students from families earning above this threshold will still receive free tuition and registration, but non-tuition costs such as accommodation and living expenses will not be covered.
During her state of the nation address earlier this year, the president announced that tuition and registration fees would fall away from 2026 at all public universities and technical and vocational education centres.
She stressed at the time that the roll-out would be gradual, with students and families still responsible for accommodation and personal costs, but the principle remained clear – fees have fallen.
To carry out this reform, a national task force was appointed to craft the technical, financial and policy framework needed for phased subsidisation.
The team’s report followed extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the finance ministry, Unesco, the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Namibia, the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Namibia, the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), the National African Students Association, the Student Union of Namibia, the Namibia Public Workers Union, Bank Windhoek, the Bankers Association of Namibia, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Namibia Institute for Democracy and the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies.
Cabinet has since approved the Subsidised Tertiary Education Funding Model.
Eligibility
Under this system, tuition and registration fees are fully subsidised for a student’s first undergraduate qualification at NQF level 5 to 8, including honours at both public and private universities, and for vocational trainees completing their first primary trade at NQF level 1 to 6.
A bridging course that leads into a primary qualification also falls under this definition.
Students may also study abroad and remain eligible if their chosen field is a national priority not offered locally.
Not everyone qualifies.
Those pursuing a second or further qualification at the same or lower level will be excluded.
Assistance will not be available to students repeating modules, non-Namibian citizens, or those enrolled in institutions or programmes that fail to meet NCHE, NQA or NTA quality and regulatory standards.
Funding for students studying abroad in courses that Namibia already offers will not qualify.
Postgraduate study also falls outside the model for now. This pause is intended to allow the development of a National List of Priority Fields of Study, which will later determine funded disciplines at the master's and doctoral levels.
Existing students funded by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) will continue under their current arrangements until they complete their programmes.
Non-tuition support, such as accommodation, meals, transport and materials, will continue to be provided as means-tested loans.
Public and private institutions must meanwhile maintain enrolment in line with their physical capacity, and academic admission standards will remain in place, guided by NQF benchmarks and national minimum quality criteria.
Academic integrity
Only institutions that comply with the Minimum Standards for Higher Education Institutions, the National Policy on Qualification Standards and the Regulations for Vocational Education and Training Providers (Government Notice 300 of 2012) may benefit under state funding.
Mechanisms already in place will be enforced more strictly to protect academic integrity, while all institutions are urged to ensure rapid compliance.
Implementation responsibilities are spread across the sector.
The education ministry will oversee rollout, financing, reporting and policy revisions.
The National Council for Higher Education will finalise the National Human Resource Development Strategy, enforce registration and compliance, and, together with the Namibia Qualifications Authority, assist in joint institutional accreditation.
NSFAF will administer and record the new funding model, recover loans where applicable and develop the priority fields list with NCHE.
The Namibia Training Authority will continue to regulate, accredit and administer levies for vocational training providers.
Students with existing debt will be required to settle what they owe, as the new reform will not absorb arrears.
Continuing NSFAF beneficiaries who qualify under the subsidised model will transition to it from 2026, while those who do not qualify will remain under their pre-existing agreements.
Private-sector scholarship support remains encouraged as an ongoing partner contribution to public investment in higher learning.
ALL SET: Education minister Sanet Steenkamp and President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Photo: State House
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp announced the implementation framework during a press briefing yesterday at Namcol’s Nahas Angula Hall, formalising President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s pledge for free tertiary education, first made in her maiden state of the nation address on 24 April.
Steenkamp explained that students whose parents earn N$100 000 or less will qualify for full free tertiary support, covering tuition, registration and accommodation. Students from families earning above this threshold will still receive free tuition and registration, but non-tuition costs such as accommodation and living expenses will not be covered.
During her state of the nation address earlier this year, the president announced that tuition and registration fees would fall away from 2026 at all public universities and technical and vocational education centres.
She stressed at the time that the roll-out would be gradual, with students and families still responsible for accommodation and personal costs, but the principle remained clear – fees have fallen.
To carry out this reform, a national task force was appointed to craft the technical, financial and policy framework needed for phased subsidisation.
The team’s report followed extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the finance ministry, Unesco, the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Namibia, the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Namibia, the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), the National African Students Association, the Student Union of Namibia, the Namibia Public Workers Union, Bank Windhoek, the Bankers Association of Namibia, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Namibia Institute for Democracy and the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies.
Cabinet has since approved the Subsidised Tertiary Education Funding Model.
Eligibility
Under this system, tuition and registration fees are fully subsidised for a student’s first undergraduate qualification at NQF level 5 to 8, including honours at both public and private universities, and for vocational trainees completing their first primary trade at NQF level 1 to 6.
A bridging course that leads into a primary qualification also falls under this definition.
Students may also study abroad and remain eligible if their chosen field is a national priority not offered locally.
Not everyone qualifies.
Those pursuing a second or further qualification at the same or lower level will be excluded.
Assistance will not be available to students repeating modules, non-Namibian citizens, or those enrolled in institutions or programmes that fail to meet NCHE, NQA or NTA quality and regulatory standards.
Funding for students studying abroad in courses that Namibia already offers will not qualify.
Postgraduate study also falls outside the model for now. This pause is intended to allow the development of a National List of Priority Fields of Study, which will later determine funded disciplines at the master's and doctoral levels.
Existing students funded by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) will continue under their current arrangements until they complete their programmes.
Non-tuition support, such as accommodation, meals, transport and materials, will continue to be provided as means-tested loans.
Public and private institutions must meanwhile maintain enrolment in line with their physical capacity, and academic admission standards will remain in place, guided by NQF benchmarks and national minimum quality criteria.
Academic integrity
Only institutions that comply with the Minimum Standards for Higher Education Institutions, the National Policy on Qualification Standards and the Regulations for Vocational Education and Training Providers (Government Notice 300 of 2012) may benefit under state funding.
Mechanisms already in place will be enforced more strictly to protect academic integrity, while all institutions are urged to ensure rapid compliance.
Implementation responsibilities are spread across the sector.
The education ministry will oversee rollout, financing, reporting and policy revisions.
The National Council for Higher Education will finalise the National Human Resource Development Strategy, enforce registration and compliance, and, together with the Namibia Qualifications Authority, assist in joint institutional accreditation.
NSFAF will administer and record the new funding model, recover loans where applicable and develop the priority fields list with NCHE.
The Namibia Training Authority will continue to regulate, accredit and administer levies for vocational training providers.
Students with existing debt will be required to settle what they owe, as the new reform will not absorb arrears.
Continuing NSFAF beneficiaries who qualify under the subsidised model will transition to it from 2026, while those who do not qualify will remain under their pre-existing agreements.
Private-sector scholarship support remains encouraged as an ongoing partner contribution to public investment in higher learning.
ALL SET: Education minister Sanet Steenkamp and President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Photo: State House
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