NSFAF, Nanso strike funding deal
NSFAF and Nanso have undertaken to iron out student funding issues, following a fruitful engagement.
The Namibia Students Assistance Fund (NSFAF) has agreed to a once-off N$3 000 payment for each beneficiary, as full and final settlement for any outstanding non-tuition fees for 2017.
These payments will commence today until Friday.
NSFAF said last Friday that due to the difficult economic climate it had gone beyond its approved budget ceiling and could not honour all its commitments in respect of non-tuition fees.
This situation was exasperated by an annual increase of students qualifying for tertiary education. NSFAF is currently paying for 42 000 students.
As far as tuition and non-tuition fees for 2017 go, NSFAF agreed to pay a maximum amount of N$24 000 per student in all fields of study at the University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the International University of Management (IUM).
However, an exception is being made for fields of study with higher tuition fees than N$24 000.
This includes medical studies for which NSFAF will pay a maximum of N$54 000, as well as engineering and veterinary medicine for which a maximum of N$34 000 per student will be paid out.
These fees are payable before 31 July. For non-tuition fees during the 2018 academic year, NSFAF will pay a flat fee of N$17 000 per student for both continuing and new students.
This is applicable to both boarding and non-boarding students. These fees are also to be paid out before the end of July.
NSFAF acting CEO Kennedy Kandume said the institution will continue to pay international and other local institutions of higher learning at the rates that were previously determined.
NSFAF and the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) said at a press briefing on Friday they had agreed to set up a joint appeals committee to look into individual rejection cases.
This committee is to start its tasks today.
The parties also agreed to set up a joint committee to engage government, especially the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation and the Ministry of Finance, to ensure the timely release of funds, thereby guaranteeing that payments are made before the end of July.
NSFAF said it will also engage with tertiary institutions to ensure students have access to services, including the right to write examinations, and that they receive their results, pending payments.
NSFAF and Nanso said they had both recognised the need for engagement, in order to address these issues.
CATHERINE SASMAN
These payments will commence today until Friday.
NSFAF said last Friday that due to the difficult economic climate it had gone beyond its approved budget ceiling and could not honour all its commitments in respect of non-tuition fees.
This situation was exasperated by an annual increase of students qualifying for tertiary education. NSFAF is currently paying for 42 000 students.
As far as tuition and non-tuition fees for 2017 go, NSFAF agreed to pay a maximum amount of N$24 000 per student in all fields of study at the University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the International University of Management (IUM).
However, an exception is being made for fields of study with higher tuition fees than N$24 000.
This includes medical studies for which NSFAF will pay a maximum of N$54 000, as well as engineering and veterinary medicine for which a maximum of N$34 000 per student will be paid out.
These fees are payable before 31 July. For non-tuition fees during the 2018 academic year, NSFAF will pay a flat fee of N$17 000 per student for both continuing and new students.
This is applicable to both boarding and non-boarding students. These fees are also to be paid out before the end of July.
NSFAF acting CEO Kennedy Kandume said the institution will continue to pay international and other local institutions of higher learning at the rates that were previously determined.
NSFAF and the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) said at a press briefing on Friday they had agreed to set up a joint appeals committee to look into individual rejection cases.
This committee is to start its tasks today.
The parties also agreed to set up a joint committee to engage government, especially the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation and the Ministry of Finance, to ensure the timely release of funds, thereby guaranteeing that payments are made before the end of July.
NSFAF said it will also engage with tertiary institutions to ensure students have access to services, including the right to write examinations, and that they receive their results, pending payments.
NSFAF and Nanso said they had both recognised the need for engagement, in order to address these issues.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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