Unam students to register now, pay later

A week of protest and intensified debate around whether the University of Namibia will register students for free ended with Unam management and Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation finding common ground. On Thursday it was agreed that students who are unable to pay the registration fee will be allowed to register. Nampa reported that Unam and Higher Education, Training and Innovation Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi agreed that Unam may not turn away students who are unable to pay the registration fee of N$3 550. That includes a N$2 000 tuition fees deposit. “Students are strongly advised to pay the N$3 550 at registration, and a breakage fee of N$650, which is applicable to hostel residents only,” read the statement. The agreement however dismisses suggestions that registration at tertiary institutions is free. Students were confused last week, with many believing that registration fees had been abolished. It was agreed at the meeting that those who register without paying will have the registration fee added to their accounts as outstanding debt. A statement issued after the meeting advised students to pay the full N$3 550 to avoid the burden of paying the full first-semester fees before the mid-year examinations. Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Nanso president Wilhelm Wilhelm said although they hadn’t had time to scrutinise the agreement or discuss it with Unam’s student representative council, he was happy that students would be allowed to register. “At this stage, what’s important is that students, even if they can’t afford it, will get to register. Obviously in the future we will have to look into the issue of student debt but for now what is important is that students get registered.” Student activist Emma Theofilus, who was scheduled to appear on the NBC’s cancelled ‘Talk of the Nation’ panel discussion last week, said the agreement merely postponed the problem. “As a student I am disappointed with the agreement reached by both parties as it does absolutely nothing for the countless students that cannot afford registration at any time of the year. “I believe the minister could have stuck to her initial word of abolishing registration fees as the ministry can cover that cost. Postponing the problem by settling for that agreement will not make it go away. Government needs to seriously commit to crafting a road towards free tertiary education,” she said. Loan holders from the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) are expected to cover the shortfall themselves where their bursaries do not fully cover the fees owed to Unam. Last week, students protested against registration fees at Unam’s main campus which led a High Court interdict to halt the Nanso-championed protest. The protest followed a similar one titled #VarsityLockDown at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. STAFF REPORTER