N$24 300 govt subsidy forces students to pay extra

Thousands of students attending private universities could still be required to pay significant amounts towards their studies despite qualifying for government-funded tertiary education.

Welwitchia University yesterday revealed that the state's subsidy is capped at N$24 300 per student regardless of the programme being pursued.

The university said any tuition costs above that threshold must be covered by students, parents or guardians, laying bare a gap between government's subsidised tertiary education model and the actual cost of studying at private institutions.

The university's statement comes as the Students Union of Namibia (SUN) warned tertiary institutions against barring students from writing exams because of outstanding balances linked to delays within the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) system.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, SUN chairperson Benhard Kavau said the union would take action against institutions that continue preventing NSFAF beneficiaries from writing examinations despite government directives to the contrary.

"We'll come to them and we'll deal with them. There's no institution or university which is above the law," Kavau said.

Exam access assured

In a statement issued on Monday, Welwitchia University said private institutions receive a predetermined subsidy from the ministry of education, with the university allocated N$24 300 per student across all programmes.

This raises questions about the extent to which government's tertiary education funding reforms amount to fully funded higher education at private institutions.

Welwitchia spokesperson Christell Nassauw said the university supports the funding model and remains appreciative of the opportunities it has created.

"To ease the burden on families, the shortfall may be paid in ten equal monthly instalments," she said.

Nassauw also confirmed that the ministry directed institutions to allow NSFAF-funded students to sit for examinations and access academic results despite funding-related delays.

"The university has issued an immediate student notice to comply with this directive," she said.

However, she added that self-funded students remain required to settle outstanding balances or make arrangements with the finance department before examinations commence.

'Strike' or 'sabotage'

Kavau said approximately 900 students nationwide are still awaiting funding confirmations and contract signings because of administrative delays within NSFAF.

He attributed the backlog to the late opening of applications, staff resignations and challenges following NSFAF's reintegration into government structures.

"It is a form of a silent strike or sabotage," he alleged.

Kavau said SUN had engaged the ministry, which subsequently recruited 50 interns to assist with verification processes and contract signings.

"This is not the fault of the students. This is a bureaucratic process," he said.

He also accused some institutions of creating unnecessary panic among students through notices relating to unpaid balances.

Despite the tensions, Welwitchia maintains that it is complying with government directives and remains committed to ensuring students continue accessing education.

Own pockets

Nassauw said the university currently has 5 112 enrolled students, of whom 3 067 are funded through NSFAF, while 2 045 are self-funded or receive no assistance from the scheme.

The figures underscore the extent to which private tertiary institutions depend on government-backed funding while also illustrating the significant number of students who remain responsible for financing their own studies or paying tuition gaps not covered by the subsidy.

Kavau acknowledged that institutions themselves may be experiencing financial pressure, particularly where government subsidies fall short of actual tuition costs.

"We also care about quality education," he said, while calling on government to urgently engage institutions facing financial strain.

Nevertheless, he insisted that students should not bear the consequences of delays within the funding system.

"The main problem is people sleeping on duty at NSFAF," Kavau said.

[email protected]