No ‘free education’ for NUST repeaters, debtors
Institutional policies clash with govt plan
Students at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) who are repeating an academic year, have outstanding financial debts to the university or are registered for postgraduate studies will not benefit from the government’s free education scheme, the institution confirmed yesterday.
This development marks the latest complication in the roll-out of the subsidised tertiary funding model, as it clashes with institutional fee policies that still require certain students to pay, exposing the limits of the free education promise.
NUST underlined that students repeating an academic year, those with unpaid debts and all postgraduate registrants must settle registration costs before enrolling.
‘Free, but we’re told to pay’
A guardian’s attempt to register a high-performing school leaver at NUST this week reportedly ended in frustration after being told that a N$4 500 registration fee was required, despite government assurances that tertiary education would be free for first-time students.
Ndilimeke Jeremia told Namibian Sun on Tuesday that the experience left both the learner and the family distressed and confused.
“Monday, I was at NUST because I know the SRC president. I went to the SRC president to ask what’s happening, and unbeknownst to me, the SRC president said no, we have to pay registration of N$4 500 for a first-time learner,” Jeremia said.
She said the learner is enrolling for their first qualification straight from the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSC AS) level and had arrived from the north with the understanding that higher education would be fully subsidised.
“This learner is straight from AS Level, this is their first qualification, and so this child was sent from the north."
She emphasised that the student’s parents were confident, based on government announcements, that their child could access tertiary education.
"Mind you, the parents were sensitised that education is free; they will not have to pay anything,” Jeremia said.
NUST responds
NUST public relations officer Cindy van Wyk said the university had updated its systems in line with revised eligibility criteria announced by the ministry of education, allowing eligible first-time undergraduate students to register without paying fees.
She added that students who had already paid would be refunded after verification – likely including the school leaver whose guardian had highlighted the unexpected registration fee.
However, Van Wyk stressed that the model “does not apply retrospectively” and does not cover students who failed a previous year, those with outstanding financial obligations, or postgraduate students – all of whom are still required to pay registration fees.
The exclusions reflect government rules, which limit the subsidy to first primary undergraduate qualifications at NQF Levels 5 to 8, including honours, and first primary trades at TVET centres. Students pursuing second or additional qualifications at the same or lower level, repeaters, dual registrants, non-Namibian citizens and most postgraduate students are excluded.
The gap between headline policy announcements and these fine-print conditions has left families uncertain, particularly those sending learners from rural areas under the impression that no upfront costs would be required.
Unam clarifies admission requirements
Amid growing confusion over access to tertiary education, the University of Namibia (Unam) has reiterated its admission criteria under the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) system.
Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said admission requires a combination of ordinary and advanced subsidiary subjects.
“Admission under the NSSC system requires an applicant to have at least two NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at an average D grade or better, as well as three NSSC ordinary subjects at grade C or higher, with English at grade C or higher,” Namesho told Namibian Sun earlier this week.
Using the minimum grades, Namesho said this combination yields 27 points. “Under the second combination, an applicant must have three NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at an average D grade or higher and two NSSC ordinary subjects at grade D or better, again with English at a minimum of C included among the ordinary-level subjects. At the minimum grades, this combination produces a total of 26 points,” he added.
This development marks the latest complication in the roll-out of the subsidised tertiary funding model, as it clashes with institutional fee policies that still require certain students to pay, exposing the limits of the free education promise.
NUST underlined that students repeating an academic year, those with unpaid debts and all postgraduate registrants must settle registration costs before enrolling.
‘Free, but we’re told to pay’
A guardian’s attempt to register a high-performing school leaver at NUST this week reportedly ended in frustration after being told that a N$4 500 registration fee was required, despite government assurances that tertiary education would be free for first-time students.
Ndilimeke Jeremia told Namibian Sun on Tuesday that the experience left both the learner and the family distressed and confused.
“Monday, I was at NUST because I know the SRC president. I went to the SRC president to ask what’s happening, and unbeknownst to me, the SRC president said no, we have to pay registration of N$4 500 for a first-time learner,” Jeremia said.
She said the learner is enrolling for their first qualification straight from the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSC AS) level and had arrived from the north with the understanding that higher education would be fully subsidised.
“This learner is straight from AS Level, this is their first qualification, and so this child was sent from the north."
She emphasised that the student’s parents were confident, based on government announcements, that their child could access tertiary education.
"Mind you, the parents were sensitised that education is free; they will not have to pay anything,” Jeremia said.
NUST responds
NUST public relations officer Cindy van Wyk said the university had updated its systems in line with revised eligibility criteria announced by the ministry of education, allowing eligible first-time undergraduate students to register without paying fees.
She added that students who had already paid would be refunded after verification – likely including the school leaver whose guardian had highlighted the unexpected registration fee.
However, Van Wyk stressed that the model “does not apply retrospectively” and does not cover students who failed a previous year, those with outstanding financial obligations, or postgraduate students – all of whom are still required to pay registration fees.
The exclusions reflect government rules, which limit the subsidy to first primary undergraduate qualifications at NQF Levels 5 to 8, including honours, and first primary trades at TVET centres. Students pursuing second or additional qualifications at the same or lower level, repeaters, dual registrants, non-Namibian citizens and most postgraduate students are excluded.
The gap between headline policy announcements and these fine-print conditions has left families uncertain, particularly those sending learners from rural areas under the impression that no upfront costs would be required.
Unam clarifies admission requirements
Amid growing confusion over access to tertiary education, the University of Namibia (Unam) has reiterated its admission criteria under the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) system.
Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said admission requires a combination of ordinary and advanced subsidiary subjects.
“Admission under the NSSC system requires an applicant to have at least two NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at an average D grade or better, as well as three NSSC ordinary subjects at grade C or higher, with English at grade C or higher,” Namesho told Namibian Sun earlier this week.
Using the minimum grades, Namesho said this combination yields 27 points. “Under the second combination, an applicant must have three NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at an average D grade or higher and two NSSC ordinary subjects at grade D or better, again with English at a minimum of C included among the ordinary-level subjects. At the minimum grades, this combination produces a total of 26 points,” he added.
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