Marginalised students in limbo
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Marginalised students enrolled at the University of Namibia (Unam) - funded by the marginalised communities division in the Vice President's office - say they have been barred from registering for the new academic year because their study fees and living allowances have not been paid since 2018.
This despite several letters of appeal written to the Vice President (VP) Nangolo Mbumba and President Hage Geingob between last and this month.
On 13 January, the Teacher’s Union of Namibia (TUN) wrote a letter to the office of the VP, saying this non-payment is driving the already marginalised students into deeper poverty.
In this letter, TUN secretary-general, Mahongora Kavihuha, called on the VP to speed up payments so that students can receive their certificates or degrees currently held by Unam because of outstanding payments.
Two weeks later on 25 January, he appealed to the office of the president, asking that Geingob urgently intervene in the matter so that it can be resolved speedily.
While Kavihuha said he has not received a response, presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari said: “I confirm receipt of the letter, which is receiving the attention of The Presidency. The Office of the Vice President is seized with this matter and correspondence has been directed to the ministry of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare to review and take appropriate action”.
‘Govt is on its knees’
“Mbumba and Geingob did not respond and it shows that this government is on its knees when the highest office is unable to respond to and satisfy the needs of the community.
“They are not serious. This is the office entrusted to look after Namibians but they are insensitive and they don’t care about the need of the people,” Kavihuha fumed.
On 4 February, Esther Lusepani, the executive director of the gender ministry responded on behalf of the VP’s office and said the ‘cumbersome’ process has been finalised and that the institution’s bills have been settled.
Lusepani told Namibian Sun yesterday that the outstanding fees for 2019 were paid in full last week and that the 2020 payments were in the process of completion.
Billing system error
According to her, the problem was Unam’s billing system, which made it difficult for the ministry to process payments.
“It would end up as an accounting error and they would send you a bill which is not substantiated. We paid the 2019 bill last week and then they sent us the bill for 2020, which we are going to pay now,” she said.
Lusepani added that students who still face problems should visit her in the office.
However, some of these students are stranded in villages without any means of transport to travel to Windhoek.
By close of business yesterday, students were still unable to access the Unam portal because of outstanding fees.
Unam spokesperson John Haufiku confirmed that the funds were still outstanding. One student owes Unam N$163 000, he said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Marginalised students enrolled at the University of Namibia (Unam) - funded by the marginalised communities division in the Vice President's office - say they have been barred from registering for the new academic year because their study fees and living allowances have not been paid since 2018.
This despite several letters of appeal written to the Vice President (VP) Nangolo Mbumba and President Hage Geingob between last and this month.
On 13 January, the Teacher’s Union of Namibia (TUN) wrote a letter to the office of the VP, saying this non-payment is driving the already marginalised students into deeper poverty.
In this letter, TUN secretary-general, Mahongora Kavihuha, called on the VP to speed up payments so that students can receive their certificates or degrees currently held by Unam because of outstanding payments.
Two weeks later on 25 January, he appealed to the office of the president, asking that Geingob urgently intervene in the matter so that it can be resolved speedily.
While Kavihuha said he has not received a response, presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari said: “I confirm receipt of the letter, which is receiving the attention of The Presidency. The Office of the Vice President is seized with this matter and correspondence has been directed to the ministry of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare to review and take appropriate action”.
‘Govt is on its knees’
“Mbumba and Geingob did not respond and it shows that this government is on its knees when the highest office is unable to respond to and satisfy the needs of the community.
“They are not serious. This is the office entrusted to look after Namibians but they are insensitive and they don’t care about the need of the people,” Kavihuha fumed.
On 4 February, Esther Lusepani, the executive director of the gender ministry responded on behalf of the VP’s office and said the ‘cumbersome’ process has been finalised and that the institution’s bills have been settled.
Lusepani told Namibian Sun yesterday that the outstanding fees for 2019 were paid in full last week and that the 2020 payments were in the process of completion.
Billing system error
According to her, the problem was Unam’s billing system, which made it difficult for the ministry to process payments.
“It would end up as an accounting error and they would send you a bill which is not substantiated. We paid the 2019 bill last week and then they sent us the bill for 2020, which we are going to pay now,” she said.
Lusepani added that students who still face problems should visit her in the office.
However, some of these students are stranded in villages without any means of transport to travel to Windhoek.
By close of business yesterday, students were still unable to access the Unam portal because of outstanding fees.
Unam spokesperson John Haufiku confirmed that the funds were still outstanding. One student owes Unam N$163 000, he said.
[email protected]
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