Dark days for Namibian students who fled Ukraine
Enzo AmueleWINDHOEK
Some Namibian students who fled Ukraine at the end of May - as they were approaching the end of their academic year - are yet to be enrolled at the University of Namibia (Unam).A total of 85 students were enrolled at various universities in Ukraine, 37 of whom were funded by Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), while 48 were privately funded. Percy Tjahere, senior manager of marketing and communications at NSFAF, said the institution’s responsibility was to cater only to the 37 students, while the others are the responsibility of the ministry of higher education, technology and innovation. “We have accorded all the students funded by NSFAF an additional year to complete their studies at any of their chosen institutions around SADC, given that the students provide the required documents such as proof of registration.”
He added that the fund would allow these students to be transferred where they wanted to go and it would still pay their bills.
“Government has taken a decision to continue to assist these students with what we call repeat payments. For example, if a student was fourth year but is requested to repeat a year,” he said.
Programmes full
According to Unam’s assistant director of corporate engagements and international relations Shahid Dickson, the university has not taken in any Namibian students who returned due to the war in Ukraine.
“We have four faculties at Unam. The faculty of health sciences and veterinary medicine had an initial discussion on the possibility, but all its programmes are currently full. This assessment was done before [looking] at admission merits.”
He added that space to possibly enrol students is one of the university’s challenges.
Asked whether students would need to start their studies from scratch, Dickson could, however, not comment.
Confusion and chaos
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a privately funded student who was studying general medicine at Ternopil National Medical University in Ukraine said the situation has affected his academic progress.
“Most of us tried to seek admission at Unam, particularly the school of medicine; however, we were told that we should wait until this academic year is over so we can apply and start from scratch.”
He added that he was in his fifth year of study and him restarting another course does not make sense.
He hopes to be enrolled at Unam to finish his studies, and has in the meantime been doing his clinical practice at Katutura Hospital.
Another student, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said he was funded by NSFAF and was in his final year, but now most of them are “left in confusion” as they do not know what to do next.
Namibia National Students’ Association (Nanso) spokesperson Dorthea Nangolo said they are working on the issue, but could not give a substantive answer beyond that.
Efforts to get comment from the higher education ministry proved futile.
Some Namibian students who fled Ukraine at the end of May - as they were approaching the end of their academic year - are yet to be enrolled at the University of Namibia (Unam).A total of 85 students were enrolled at various universities in Ukraine, 37 of whom were funded by Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), while 48 were privately funded. Percy Tjahere, senior manager of marketing and communications at NSFAF, said the institution’s responsibility was to cater only to the 37 students, while the others are the responsibility of the ministry of higher education, technology and innovation. “We have accorded all the students funded by NSFAF an additional year to complete their studies at any of their chosen institutions around SADC, given that the students provide the required documents such as proof of registration.”
He added that the fund would allow these students to be transferred where they wanted to go and it would still pay their bills.
“Government has taken a decision to continue to assist these students with what we call repeat payments. For example, if a student was fourth year but is requested to repeat a year,” he said.
Programmes full
According to Unam’s assistant director of corporate engagements and international relations Shahid Dickson, the university has not taken in any Namibian students who returned due to the war in Ukraine.
“We have four faculties at Unam. The faculty of health sciences and veterinary medicine had an initial discussion on the possibility, but all its programmes are currently full. This assessment was done before [looking] at admission merits.”
He added that space to possibly enrol students is one of the university’s challenges.
Asked whether students would need to start their studies from scratch, Dickson could, however, not comment.
Confusion and chaos
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a privately funded student who was studying general medicine at Ternopil National Medical University in Ukraine said the situation has affected his academic progress.
“Most of us tried to seek admission at Unam, particularly the school of medicine; however, we were told that we should wait until this academic year is over so we can apply and start from scratch.”
He added that he was in his fifth year of study and him restarting another course does not make sense.
He hopes to be enrolled at Unam to finish his studies, and has in the meantime been doing his clinical practice at Katutura Hospital.
Another student, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said he was funded by NSFAF and was in his final year, but now most of them are “left in confusion” as they do not know what to do next.
Namibia National Students’ Association (Nanso) spokesperson Dorthea Nangolo said they are working on the issue, but could not give a substantive answer beyond that.
Efforts to get comment from the higher education ministry proved futile.
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