EDITORIAL: Free education cannot be a political gamble
Namibia’s ambitious free university education scheme is teetering on the edge of chaos - and the victims will be our students. Families are losing sleep. Learners are panicking. And the clock is ticking.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s April announcement was noble. Free education at all levels is a cornerstone of the welfare state many Namibians dream of. But good intentions mean nothing if they are not paired with clarity, consistency, and a practical roadmap. Right now, all three are missing.
Student movement Nanso raised concerns yesterday that should set alarm bells ringing in every ministry office. Universities are receiving conflicting guidance. Institutions are contradicting each other on approaches and models. And students - many of them just weeks from registration - are left navigating a maze of uncertainty.
The confusion is most acute for learners exiting at Grade 11. The government itself allowed this early exit, only to turn around and tell the very same cohort they will not benefit from free tertiary education.
The consequences of such ambiguity are not abstract. Students delayed in registration, forced into uncertainty, or denied access due to unclear rules may see their academic paths disrupted, their ambitions stalled, and their families burdened. Beyond individuals, the nation risks undermining confidence in government programmes that are meant to uplift citizens.
Namibia cannot afford a repeat of half-baked policy rollouts. The government must step in immediately to clarify rules, harmonise institutions, and guarantee that every deserving student can access this presidential initiative. Free education is transformative - but only if implemented with precision and accountability. Anything less is a gamble students and their families cannot afford.
Namibians expect action, not confusion. Because for students, hope deferred is opportunity lost - and that is a cost too high to pay.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s April announcement was noble. Free education at all levels is a cornerstone of the welfare state many Namibians dream of. But good intentions mean nothing if they are not paired with clarity, consistency, and a practical roadmap. Right now, all three are missing.
Student movement Nanso raised concerns yesterday that should set alarm bells ringing in every ministry office. Universities are receiving conflicting guidance. Institutions are contradicting each other on approaches and models. And students - many of them just weeks from registration - are left navigating a maze of uncertainty.
The confusion is most acute for learners exiting at Grade 11. The government itself allowed this early exit, only to turn around and tell the very same cohort they will not benefit from free tertiary education.
The consequences of such ambiguity are not abstract. Students delayed in registration, forced into uncertainty, or denied access due to unclear rules may see their academic paths disrupted, their ambitions stalled, and their families burdened. Beyond individuals, the nation risks undermining confidence in government programmes that are meant to uplift citizens.
Namibia cannot afford a repeat of half-baked policy rollouts. The government must step in immediately to clarify rules, harmonise institutions, and guarantee that every deserving student can access this presidential initiative. Free education is transformative - but only if implemented with precision and accountability. Anything less is a gamble students and their families cannot afford.
Namibians expect action, not confusion. Because for students, hope deferred is opportunity lost - and that is a cost too high to pay.
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