No such thing as ‘Grade 11’ in tertiary admissions, officials say
Education officials say long-standing confusion over Grade 11 and tertiary education stems from a misunderstanding of how the system works.
They say the term “Grade 11” has no formal meaning in Namibia’s tertiary education system.
As registrations for the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) open later this month, officials urged the public to distinguish clearly between qualification-based access to tertiary education and the separate funding rules that determine who receives financial support.
Addressing a media briefing convened by the education ministry in Windhoek on Friday, the director of National Examinations and Assessment, Clementine Tsumis-Garises, said the debate around Grade 11 has distracted from how admission decisions are actually made.
“Let us make this thing clear. The elephant in the [room] of so-called Grade 11. In the first place, let us stop talking about Grade 11. There is no grade rated on a certificate,” Tsumis-Garises said.
She explained that universities and colleges assess applicants based on recognised qualifications aligned with the National Qualifications Framework, rather than the school year in which a learner completed their studies.
“When you go for admission to universities, there is no Grade 11 or Grade 12 on those certificates. It’s the qualification that gets you through what you are to study,” she clarified.
Tsumis-Garises added that the continued focus on grades 11 and 12 has created unnecessary fear among learners while masking inconsistencies in the application of qualifications.
She highlighted regional practices, saying International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) candidates from Botswana are being admitted to the University of Namibia (Unam).
Tsumis-Garises also said that Ordinary Level students from Zimbabwe and Zambia are admitted, but Ordinary Level students from Namibia are reportedly not.
She called for the system to be applied fairly and consistently.
“Please, stop talking about Grade 11, Grade 12. Then you don’t know your system. And make provision for our children,” she added.
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp emphasised that last week's briefing was intended to restore public confidence and understanding.
“It really is important that we do not, at tertiary level, talk about Grade 11 or Grade 12. We refer to the certification,” she said.
Combinations
Unam public relations manager Simon Namesho said the university considers a combination of ordinary subsidiary and advanced subsidiary subjects.
Namesho told Namibian Sun yesterday that admission under the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (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.
Using the minimum grades, this combination yields a total of 27 points, calculated from two NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at D level and three NSSC ordinary subjects at C level.
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.
The subsidy factor
Steenkamp confirmed last week that government has secured funding for subsidised tertiary education in 2026, while stressing that NSFAF’s existing rules will continue to determine who qualifies for support.
“Government has secured the funding for the 2026 academic year,” Steenkamp affirmed.
She added that eligible students enrolled at both public and private institutions will receive subsidies covering registration and tuition fees for their primary qualification.
The minister explained that the reform will be introduced gradually over a three-year period to safeguard quality and system stability, given the complexity of the education sector.
Consultations have been held with regulators, universities and private providers, including the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Namibia and the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions, to align expectations and implementation modalities, she added.
Level 8 studies that form part of a first undergraduate qualification will be funded under the subsidised education framework, as they are not considered postgraduate at this point.
New postgraduate studies will not be funded in 2026, although students with existing funding contracts will continue to receive support.
The minister said government was working towards funding those studying for master’s and PhDs.
NSFAF executive for finance, Vetumbuavi Urinavi, speaking on behalf of the acting chief executive officer, Kennedy Kandume, confirmed the minister's comments.
They say the term “Grade 11” has no formal meaning in Namibia’s tertiary education system.
As registrations for the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) open later this month, officials urged the public to distinguish clearly between qualification-based access to tertiary education and the separate funding rules that determine who receives financial support.
Addressing a media briefing convened by the education ministry in Windhoek on Friday, the director of National Examinations and Assessment, Clementine Tsumis-Garises, said the debate around Grade 11 has distracted from how admission decisions are actually made.
“Let us make this thing clear. The elephant in the [room] of so-called Grade 11. In the first place, let us stop talking about Grade 11. There is no grade rated on a certificate,” Tsumis-Garises said.
She explained that universities and colleges assess applicants based on recognised qualifications aligned with the National Qualifications Framework, rather than the school year in which a learner completed their studies.
“When you go for admission to universities, there is no Grade 11 or Grade 12 on those certificates. It’s the qualification that gets you through what you are to study,” she clarified.
Tsumis-Garises added that the continued focus on grades 11 and 12 has created unnecessary fear among learners while masking inconsistencies in the application of qualifications.
She highlighted regional practices, saying International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) candidates from Botswana are being admitted to the University of Namibia (Unam).
Tsumis-Garises also said that Ordinary Level students from Zimbabwe and Zambia are admitted, but Ordinary Level students from Namibia are reportedly not.
She called for the system to be applied fairly and consistently.
“Please, stop talking about Grade 11, Grade 12. Then you don’t know your system. And make provision for our children,” she added.
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp emphasised that last week's briefing was intended to restore public confidence and understanding.
“It really is important that we do not, at tertiary level, talk about Grade 11 or Grade 12. We refer to the certification,” she said.
Combinations
Unam public relations manager Simon Namesho said the university considers a combination of ordinary subsidiary and advanced subsidiary subjects.
Namesho told Namibian Sun yesterday that admission under the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (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.
Using the minimum grades, this combination yields a total of 27 points, calculated from two NSSC advanced subsidiary subjects at D level and three NSSC ordinary subjects at C level.
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.
The subsidy factor
Steenkamp confirmed last week that government has secured funding for subsidised tertiary education in 2026, while stressing that NSFAF’s existing rules will continue to determine who qualifies for support.
“Government has secured the funding for the 2026 academic year,” Steenkamp affirmed.
She added that eligible students enrolled at both public and private institutions will receive subsidies covering registration and tuition fees for their primary qualification.
The minister explained that the reform will be introduced gradually over a three-year period to safeguard quality and system stability, given the complexity of the education sector.
Consultations have been held with regulators, universities and private providers, including the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Namibia and the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions, to align expectations and implementation modalities, she added.
Level 8 studies that form part of a first undergraduate qualification will be funded under the subsidised education framework, as they are not considered postgraduate at this point.
New postgraduate studies will not be funded in 2026, although students with existing funding contracts will continue to receive support.
The minister said government was working towards funding those studying for master’s and PhDs.
NSFAF executive for finance, Vetumbuavi Urinavi, speaking on behalf of the acting chief executive officer, Kennedy Kandume, confirmed the minister's comments.
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