EDITORIAL: Free Education: Promise or policy without a plan?

Namibia’s pledge to offer free tertiary education in 2026 was announced with fanfare, but with only months left before its rollout, the nation is still waiting for answers. Free education is not just about removing tuition fees – it requires an entire restructuring of the higher education system. It means rethinking funding, infrastructure, curriculum delivery and accountability across the public and private education sectors. So far, there has been no public framework detailing how this ambitious policy will work.



How will the state finance it amid competing social needs, from healthcare to housing? Will the policy apply only to public universities and colleges, or will students enrolled at private institutions – who make up a growing share of Namibia’s tertiary population – also benefit?



Private universities such as IUM, Triumphant and Welwitchia train thousands each year, often filling the gaps left by overstretched public institutions. Excluding them could deepen inequality rather than reduce it. Universities are also facing serious logistical questions. How will they handle increased enrolment, staff shortages and pressure on housing and facilities? Will government subsidies match the real costs of delivery? Namibia deserves clarity – because a policy of this magnitude cannot be improvised months before its launch.