Funding crisis: Students face bleak future
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has called on President Hage Geingob to walk the walk when it comes to fighting corruption by probing the mess at the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), which the official opposition says may not have enough money to finance most students during the current academic year.
“We call on President Hage Geingob to put his preaching of tackling corruption into credible and beneficial action and clean up the mess created by the board of NSFAF and also hire competent individuals to lead the institution from here on, to ensure the students currently enrolled at different institutions are ensured that their education futures are covered for this financial year and many other years to come (sic),” PDM secretary for education Elma Dienda said.
She said NSFAF board chairperson Jerome Mutumba allegedly informed close friends of the fund's inability to finance most students this year.
According to Dienda since the fund was established it has been characterised by corruption, malpractice, maladministration and the misappropriation of millions of dollars, as well as billions not being recovered from beneficiaries.
“There has been growing concerns over its management, and the loss of money that would have been used to fund the education of thousands of students and ensure a better future for them,” she said.
Dienda said the NSFAF board had been accused by employees of incompetence and corruption and these were just some of the reasons for the institution's failure.
According to her it is imperative to conduct thorough investigations into NSFAF's dealings and to hold the guilty individuals accountable for incompetence and corrupt practices.
Dienda said this would ensure that the same does not happen at other public institutions.
According to Dienda, NSFAF is the third state entity after the SME Bank and the Roads Contractor Company to face closure because of administrative failure.
“What is happening in our country is unexplainable. What the president or government is doing about this is even more worrying. After the closures of all the above-mentioned public entities, little has been done to uncover the practices that have led to the closure of these institutions.
“Instead, they simply close down or get downgraded without anyone being held accountable for their failures, much to the detriment and suffering of the employees and the Namibian public at large.”
Dienda said the PDM had continuously called on the president and his government to intervene and question those responsible for the failure of these large public entities.
“It seems to be a continuing trend which might lead to the closures of all our public institutions and a loss of funds without any responsibility or accountability.”
The PDM believes that education is a very important asset for the country and that an educated youth will lift the country out of its financial crisis, Dienda added.
ELLANIE SMIT
“We call on President Hage Geingob to put his preaching of tackling corruption into credible and beneficial action and clean up the mess created by the board of NSFAF and also hire competent individuals to lead the institution from here on, to ensure the students currently enrolled at different institutions are ensured that their education futures are covered for this financial year and many other years to come (sic),” PDM secretary for education Elma Dienda said.
She said NSFAF board chairperson Jerome Mutumba allegedly informed close friends of the fund's inability to finance most students this year.
According to Dienda since the fund was established it has been characterised by corruption, malpractice, maladministration and the misappropriation of millions of dollars, as well as billions not being recovered from beneficiaries.
“There has been growing concerns over its management, and the loss of money that would have been used to fund the education of thousands of students and ensure a better future for them,” she said.
Dienda said the NSFAF board had been accused by employees of incompetence and corruption and these were just some of the reasons for the institution's failure.
According to her it is imperative to conduct thorough investigations into NSFAF's dealings and to hold the guilty individuals accountable for incompetence and corrupt practices.
Dienda said this would ensure that the same does not happen at other public institutions.
According to Dienda, NSFAF is the third state entity after the SME Bank and the Roads Contractor Company to face closure because of administrative failure.
“What is happening in our country is unexplainable. What the president or government is doing about this is even more worrying. After the closures of all the above-mentioned public entities, little has been done to uncover the practices that have led to the closure of these institutions.
“Instead, they simply close down or get downgraded without anyone being held accountable for their failures, much to the detriment and suffering of the employees and the Namibian public at large.”
Dienda said the PDM had continuously called on the president and his government to intervene and question those responsible for the failure of these large public entities.
“It seems to be a continuing trend which might lead to the closures of all our public institutions and a loss of funds without any responsibility or accountability.”
The PDM believes that education is a very important asset for the country and that an educated youth will lift the country out of its financial crisis, Dienda added.
ELLANIE SMIT
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