NSFAF defends staggered payouts amid student hardship claims

The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) has confirmed that non-tuition fee payments for the current academic year are underway but warned that not all beneficiaries will receive their allowances simultaneously due to administrative processes.

In a statement issued this week, the fund said disbursements began in line with its approved timetable and would continue progressively until October.

“The disbursement of non-tuition fees for the 2026 academic year has officially commenced, as per the approved communicated timetable, and will run from April to October 2026", the fund announced.

NSFAF stressed that payments depend on invoices submitted by tertiary institutions and subsequent verification processes, warning this could lead to delays for some students.

“Due to the invoicing and verification processes between NSFAF and tertiary institutions, payments will be processed progressively,” the statement read. “As such, not all beneficiaries may receive their payments at the same time or at the onset of the payment cycle.”

The fund added that “any outstanding payments will, however, be effected as the processing of invoices and verification of requirements are completed”.

Speaking to Namibian Sun, NSFAF executive for stakeholder relations Percy Tjahere defended the rollout, saying payments had already been made following the approval of the national budget. “We have already paid students. Before we paid the students, we made that notice,” he said.

Administrative process

Tjahere explained that the fund’s financial cycle determines when disbursements begin.

“The financial year ends in April. Once the budget is appropriated, we have that timetable that we publish each year, and on that specific day, we do our payments, and we have done so as well,” he said.

He emphasised that only institutions that have submitted invoices are processed. “We request invoices from institutions of higher learning, and only those that have provided get paid.”

According to Tjahere, the annual non-tuition allocation, typically around N$17 000 per student, is spread over several months. “We have that N$17 000 that we distribute over a period from April to October because that is the time when the students are active,” he said.

He also noted that delays of one month could result in higher payments later. “If a student is paid now, and because we did not get them in, it will be next month, they will get double the amount of money,” he said.

At present, NSFAF said continuing students are being prioritised, while new beneficiaries will only be paid once administrative processes are complete. “Disbursements for new awardees will commence once the contracting process has been finalised and bank cards have been successfully issued,” the fund said.

Hard choices in hard times

A student, writing anonymously on social media, described the situation as dire, claiming delays had forced her into extreme survival measures.

“We are really struggling to navigate through these hardship situations that the NSFAF people are putting us through,” the student wrote. “Imagine from January to May I'm a female student without any family support."

The student was frank about how she survives: "I'm sleeping around with taxi guys in Ongwediva just to pay rent and survive.”

“This is not the life we want, but what can I do if I have to pay for accommodation, I have to pay for my transport, as well as buy food.”

Tjahere acknowledged broader societal concerns but suggested that financial responsibility should not rest solely on the state. “We are creating a society that is dependent on the state,” he said. “Where is parental contribution in this thing we are doing?”

NSFAF maintained that it is working with institutions to improve efficiency and ensure all eligible students receive their allowances. “NSFAF continues to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that disbursements are executed as efficiently and accurately as possible,” the fund said, adding that it remains “committed to ensuring a smooth, transparent, and efficient payment process for all”.