Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund boosts the students of Namibia

Monique Adams On Monday, 5 October 2020, the launch of the registration portal of student data devices and laptops at Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) took place. This means students can register and apply for online connectivity gadgets.“I would like to take this opportunity just to thank our government for blessing us with this opportunity and for hearing the cries of our students. This initiative enables us with internet access especially in times like this where we adopt to the new norm. We hope this project and initiative will be an annual program as we still have students who are yet to enrol next year and they will find themselves in the same position,” said the SRC president of Nust, Lilian David.The devices that were launched cost N$19.3 million. IT infrastructure, the storage facilities and servers that were installed at Nust cost about N$2.2 million, N$7 million was put aside for the installation of the same equipment at the University of Namibia (Unam), so that Unam can help other institutions, private and public institutions.“We have arranged that Nust receives about 2 300 internet devices by Friday, 9 October 2020, just as the beginning. This is part of the 28 000 internet devices that we ordered through Telecom Namibia. The devices are for all institutions excluding Unam and the reason is because Unam already has the programme of giving devices. The provision of both internet devices and laptops starts at the NQF Level 5, so if you are starting at level 4 and below you will not qualify for this program,” said Kennedy Kandume, acting chief executive officer of NSFAF.Data devices are costly, so institutions themselves cannot afford the correct IT infrastructure and therefore the ministry through NSFAF needed to put funds aside for this purpose.All of the students that are getting these devices will have 10 Gb of almost free data per year. As the data is used up, they can top up with data from Telecom Namibia.Higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi says it will be a serious disservice for any Namibian child to be at university without a laptop or even connectivity gadgets. After a needs analysis was done by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), it was found that about 32 000 students had no access to laptops or internet devices.“Why is the government doing this? The youth of our country are the future of this nation and therefore providing them with the necessary quality education is so important for the advancement of our nation. Therefore, providing them with the necessary quality education is so pivotal to the development and advancements of our nation,” the minister said.She encouraged those who are in need and interested in the laptops to apply. As soon as the students receive their devices, they can use them immediately.

Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund boosts the students of Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2022-08-17

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Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund boosts the students of Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2022-08-17

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