Govt to the rescue of 2 200 jobless teachers, nurses
Over N$660m allocated to free varsity education
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah yesterday threw a lifeline to hundreds of unemployed teachers and nurses, announcing the recruitment of more than 2 200 professionals in the education and health sectors despite government’s worsening fiscal position.
Presenting the 2025/26 mid-year budget review in parliament, a resolute Shafudah said N$151 million will go toward hiring 665 teachers, while the health ministry will receive N$185 million to recruit 1 537 nurses and other medical staff.
The announcement came as part of N$1.2 billion in reallocations within the national budget – not new spending – as government grapples with slowing revenue and rising debt.
“We are not spending more; we are spending smarter,” Shafudah told lawmakers. “Our priority is to invest in people – in our classrooms, in our hospitals – where the impact of every dollar is most visible.”
A rescue in tough times
The move comes amid growing frustration among trained teachers and nurses unable to secure employment due to frozen posts and funding shortfalls. Education unions and health associations have long accused government of neglecting frontline services while pouring money into administrative costs.
Shafudah’s announcement was therefore met with relief across both sectors, with many seeing it as a moral and economic imperative. “This intervention is timely,” she said. “We cannot build a prosperous nation while our classrooms and clinics remain understaffed.”
Free tertiary education kicks off
The mid-year review also provided an update on the implementation of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s subsidised free tertiary education policy, which will take effect in January. Government has set aside N$663 million to pay for tuition and registration fees for the first quarter of 2026 at public universities and colleges.
“This is the first tangible phase of free tertiary education,” Shafudah explained. “It will ease the burden on thousands of students and families, while ensuring that higher education remains accessible to all Namibians.”
Education, in total, receives N$814 million in the mid-year adjustment – the single largest boost of any ministry. The funds will go toward covering tertiary fees and hiring teachers, both seen as critical to improving the quality of education and expanding opportunities.
Fiscal juggling act
Despite the new allocations, Shafudah made it clear that government’s overall budget remains frozen at N$89.4 billion, as fiscal constraints tighten. Revenue collection had slowed to 40% of target by September, while public debt had ballooned to N$176.3 billion.
“The reality is that our resources are limited,” the minister warned. “But within that constraint, we must ensure that our spending remains targeted, efficient and impactful.”
Government debt servicing costs now consume 16% of total revenue, underscoring what Shafudah described as a “limping but resilient” fiscal position.
Other reallocations include N$50 million to the National Emergency Disaster Fund for drought relief, N$30 million to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), which will conduct regional council and local authority elections next month, and N$45 million to the National Assembly for staff and accommodation costs.
Jobs, dignity and hope
The hiring of nurses and teachers could not come sooner. Hospitals across the country have reported staff shortages that compromise patient care, while many schools operate with overcrowded classrooms.
“The injection into these two sectors is not just about numbers – it’s about dignity,” Shafudah said. “We are creating jobs for qualified Namibians who have been waiting for the opportunity to serve.”
She added that investing in human capital remains central to achieving Vision 2030 and the goals of the new National Development Plan Six (NDP6), which prioritises skills development and social welfare.
Real impact prioritised
Economic growth for 2025 has been revised downward to 3.3% from the initial 4.5%, reflecting weaker mining and manufacturing output. Yet Shafudah maintained that Namibia’s fiscal direction remains on course, guided by prudence and social impact.
Quoting World Bank president Ajay Banga, she reminded lawmakers that “a job is what happens when a school leads to a skill, and when a clinic keeps someone healthy enough to work.”
Her message was clear: even in austerity, people come first.
“Our focus is on protecting the livelihoods of Namibians,” she said. “We will continue to prioritise education and healthcare because that is how we turn investment into real impact.”
Presenting the 2025/26 mid-year budget review in parliament, a resolute Shafudah said N$151 million will go toward hiring 665 teachers, while the health ministry will receive N$185 million to recruit 1 537 nurses and other medical staff.
The announcement came as part of N$1.2 billion in reallocations within the national budget – not new spending – as government grapples with slowing revenue and rising debt.
“We are not spending more; we are spending smarter,” Shafudah told lawmakers. “Our priority is to invest in people – in our classrooms, in our hospitals – where the impact of every dollar is most visible.”
A rescue in tough times
The move comes amid growing frustration among trained teachers and nurses unable to secure employment due to frozen posts and funding shortfalls. Education unions and health associations have long accused government of neglecting frontline services while pouring money into administrative costs.
Shafudah’s announcement was therefore met with relief across both sectors, with many seeing it as a moral and economic imperative. “This intervention is timely,” she said. “We cannot build a prosperous nation while our classrooms and clinics remain understaffed.”
Free tertiary education kicks off
The mid-year review also provided an update on the implementation of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s subsidised free tertiary education policy, which will take effect in January. Government has set aside N$663 million to pay for tuition and registration fees for the first quarter of 2026 at public universities and colleges.
“This is the first tangible phase of free tertiary education,” Shafudah explained. “It will ease the burden on thousands of students and families, while ensuring that higher education remains accessible to all Namibians.”
Education, in total, receives N$814 million in the mid-year adjustment – the single largest boost of any ministry. The funds will go toward covering tertiary fees and hiring teachers, both seen as critical to improving the quality of education and expanding opportunities.
Fiscal juggling act
Despite the new allocations, Shafudah made it clear that government’s overall budget remains frozen at N$89.4 billion, as fiscal constraints tighten. Revenue collection had slowed to 40% of target by September, while public debt had ballooned to N$176.3 billion.
“The reality is that our resources are limited,” the minister warned. “But within that constraint, we must ensure that our spending remains targeted, efficient and impactful.”
Government debt servicing costs now consume 16% of total revenue, underscoring what Shafudah described as a “limping but resilient” fiscal position.
Other reallocations include N$50 million to the National Emergency Disaster Fund for drought relief, N$30 million to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), which will conduct regional council and local authority elections next month, and N$45 million to the National Assembly for staff and accommodation costs.
Jobs, dignity and hope
The hiring of nurses and teachers could not come sooner. Hospitals across the country have reported staff shortages that compromise patient care, while many schools operate with overcrowded classrooms.
“The injection into these two sectors is not just about numbers – it’s about dignity,” Shafudah said. “We are creating jobs for qualified Namibians who have been waiting for the opportunity to serve.”
She added that investing in human capital remains central to achieving Vision 2030 and the goals of the new National Development Plan Six (NDP6), which prioritises skills development and social welfare.
Real impact prioritised
Economic growth for 2025 has been revised downward to 3.3% from the initial 4.5%, reflecting weaker mining and manufacturing output. Yet Shafudah maintained that Namibia’s fiscal direction remains on course, guided by prudence and social impact.
Quoting World Bank president Ajay Banga, she reminded lawmakers that “a job is what happens when a school leads to a skill, and when a clinic keeps someone healthy enough to work.”
Her message was clear: even in austerity, people come first.
“Our focus is on protecting the livelihoods of Namibians,” she said. “We will continue to prioritise education and healthcare because that is how we turn investment into real impact.”
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article