Nanso demands clarity as varsity subsidy confusion deepens
• Students bemoan definitional ambiguities
Nikanor NangoloWindhoek
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) has formally demanded that government urgently regulate the subsidised tertiary education framework through a comprehensive, written and publicly accessible policy, warning that ongoing uncertainty threatens to destabilise the 2026 academic year.
Addressing a public meeting in Windhoek yesterday, Nanso president Dorthea Nangolo said the absence of a clear policy has created widespread confusion for students, institutions and funders, particularly around eligibility, qualification definitions and non-tuition support.
She said the organisation wants a policy document that resolves definitional ambiguities, aligns the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) with socio-economic realities, and enforces institutional compliance without exception.
“Furthermore, Nanso calls for the establishment of an independent administrative oversight mechanism, including a dedicated national call centre to serve as a single authoritative interface for students regarding subsidised education,” Nangolo said.
She stressed that while students remain committed to constructive engagement, they would reject “symbolic policy declarations devoid of substantive implementation”.
Policy gaps and definitional ambiguity
Nangolo acknowledged that the commitment to fully subsidised tertiary education represents a historic policy shift, but said its implementation remains fragmented and exclusionary.
She cited the lack of clarity around key definitions as a major source of instability.
“To date, government has not provided a definitive and publicly accessible explanation of what constitutes a ‘first primary qualification’, how repeating students or those who have switched qualifications are treated, whether or which bridging programmes are funded, or how honours degrees at NQF Level 8 are categorised,” she said.
She added that this uncertainty has direct consequences for students’ academic planning and financial security.
Of particular concern, she said, is the emerging interpretation that unintegrated honours degrees — especially at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) — may be treated as a privilege rather than a right, undermining the policy’s stated aim of advancing equity.
Accommodation crisis ignored
Beyond tuition funding, Nanso warned that the student accommodation crisis remains largely unaddressed.
“Student accommodation costs in Windhoek and other urban centres continue to rise unchecked, with limited regulation, poor safety standards and minimal state intervention,” Nangolo said.
She noted that the long-promised student village project has yet to materialise, despite repeated announcements.
Thousands of students living in hostels and private accommodation rely on NSFAF non-tuition support to cover housing costs, she said, adding that the drastic reduction in eligibility for such support has left many students exposed.
“A policy that ignores where and how students live cannot claim to address access to education holistically,” she said.
Grade 11 learners excluded
Nangolo also criticised the exclusion of learners who exit the schooling system at Grade 11.
“Ordinary Level remains a formally recognised exit point within Namibia’s education system, and several tertiary institutions lawfully admit students on the basis of Grade 11 qualifications,” she said.
She described the exclusion of this group from subsidised funding as illogical and discriminatory.
Nanso is demanding that Grade 11 learners be included in the fully subsidised education framework, and warned that failure to do so by 27 January 2026 could result in mass action, including the shutdown of Government Park.
NSFAF eligibility under fire
Central to the students’ grievances, Nangolo said, is the restructuring of NSFAF eligibility thresholds.
She criticised the reduction of the household income threshold for non-tuition support from N$500 000 to as low as N$100 000, describing it as a “profound policy regression”.
“This effectively excludes families who are administratively classified as middle income but are objectively unable to afford accommodation, transport, food and learning materials,” she said.
According to student expenditure data cited by Nanso, accommodation alone averages about N$31 000 per year, often exceeding tuition costs.
She also condemned the continued charging of registration fees by some public institutions, most notably the University of Namibia, despite the government’s announcement of fully subsidised tertiary education.
Such practices, she said, amount to institutional non-compliance and shift financial risk onto students, contrary to the intent of the policy.
Delays compound vulnerability
Nangolo further criticised ongoing delays in NSFAF application processes and non-tuition disbursements.
“Non-tuition funding disbursed after May of an academic year defeats its purpose entirely,” she said, warning that repeated delays continue to deepen student vulnerability.
[email protected]
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) has formally demanded that government urgently regulate the subsidised tertiary education framework through a comprehensive, written and publicly accessible policy, warning that ongoing uncertainty threatens to destabilise the 2026 academic year.
Addressing a public meeting in Windhoek yesterday, Nanso president Dorthea Nangolo said the absence of a clear policy has created widespread confusion for students, institutions and funders, particularly around eligibility, qualification definitions and non-tuition support.
She said the organisation wants a policy document that resolves definitional ambiguities, aligns the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) with socio-economic realities, and enforces institutional compliance without exception.
“Furthermore, Nanso calls for the establishment of an independent administrative oversight mechanism, including a dedicated national call centre to serve as a single authoritative interface for students regarding subsidised education,” Nangolo said.
She stressed that while students remain committed to constructive engagement, they would reject “symbolic policy declarations devoid of substantive implementation”.
Policy gaps and definitional ambiguity
Nangolo acknowledged that the commitment to fully subsidised tertiary education represents a historic policy shift, but said its implementation remains fragmented and exclusionary.
She cited the lack of clarity around key definitions as a major source of instability.
“To date, government has not provided a definitive and publicly accessible explanation of what constitutes a ‘first primary qualification’, how repeating students or those who have switched qualifications are treated, whether or which bridging programmes are funded, or how honours degrees at NQF Level 8 are categorised,” she said.
She added that this uncertainty has direct consequences for students’ academic planning and financial security.
Of particular concern, she said, is the emerging interpretation that unintegrated honours degrees — especially at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) — may be treated as a privilege rather than a right, undermining the policy’s stated aim of advancing equity.
Accommodation crisis ignored
Beyond tuition funding, Nanso warned that the student accommodation crisis remains largely unaddressed.
“Student accommodation costs in Windhoek and other urban centres continue to rise unchecked, with limited regulation, poor safety standards and minimal state intervention,” Nangolo said.
She noted that the long-promised student village project has yet to materialise, despite repeated announcements.
Thousands of students living in hostels and private accommodation rely on NSFAF non-tuition support to cover housing costs, she said, adding that the drastic reduction in eligibility for such support has left many students exposed.
“A policy that ignores where and how students live cannot claim to address access to education holistically,” she said.
Grade 11 learners excluded
Nangolo also criticised the exclusion of learners who exit the schooling system at Grade 11.
“Ordinary Level remains a formally recognised exit point within Namibia’s education system, and several tertiary institutions lawfully admit students on the basis of Grade 11 qualifications,” she said.
She described the exclusion of this group from subsidised funding as illogical and discriminatory.
Nanso is demanding that Grade 11 learners be included in the fully subsidised education framework, and warned that failure to do so by 27 January 2026 could result in mass action, including the shutdown of Government Park.
NSFAF eligibility under fire
Central to the students’ grievances, Nangolo said, is the restructuring of NSFAF eligibility thresholds.
She criticised the reduction of the household income threshold for non-tuition support from N$500 000 to as low as N$100 000, describing it as a “profound policy regression”.
“This effectively excludes families who are administratively classified as middle income but are objectively unable to afford accommodation, transport, food and learning materials,” she said.
According to student expenditure data cited by Nanso, accommodation alone averages about N$31 000 per year, often exceeding tuition costs.
She also condemned the continued charging of registration fees by some public institutions, most notably the University of Namibia, despite the government’s announcement of fully subsidised tertiary education.
Such practices, she said, amount to institutional non-compliance and shift financial risk onto students, contrary to the intent of the policy.
Delays compound vulnerability
Nangolo further criticised ongoing delays in NSFAF application processes and non-tuition disbursements.
“Non-tuition funding disbursed after May of an academic year defeats its purpose entirely,” she said, warning that repeated delays continue to deepen student vulnerability.
[email protected]
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