The Brief conducted a survey to determine the cost of private education in Namibia in 2024.
Our findings reveal that while private schools promise a high-quality education and excellent results, they come with a high price tag.
Six private schools were surveyed, namely: Windhoek International School, St Paul’s College, Windhoek Gymnasium, St George’s Diocesan school, Amazing Kids Private School and Academy, and Waldorf School Windhoek.
The survey examined the approved fee structures for Grade 1 and Grade 12 per child per annum in 2024.
According to our survey of school fees for 2024, Windhoek International School emerged as the highest priced private school in the country for both Grade 1 and 12.
Grade 1 at Windhoek International School will cost you N$88,000 per child per annum in 2024 and Grade 12 will set you back N$157,000 per child per annum.
Parents planning to enroll their children for the first time are expected to pay an enrollment fee of N$15,000, which is payable once only upon initial enrolment into Early Years 3 through Grade 12.
Non-Namibian parents or those not subject to local taxes are required to pay N$205,000 per child annually for Grade 1 and N$332,000 per child annually for Grade 12.
However, they are subject to the same local rates for the enrollment fee of N$15,000 and the capital amount per child per academic year of N$7,500.
St. Paul’s College is ranked second in our survey, with the annual tuition fees for Grade 1 amounting to N$76,000 per child per annum. This cost remains constant at N$76,000 until Grade 6.
Subsequently, Grade 7 incurs a fee of N$83,140, Grade 8-9 costs N$90,265, Grade 10 – 11 amounts to N$94,000, and Grade 12 will be expected to pay N$97,945 per annum per child.
A non-refundable enrollment fee of N$ 6,500 for newly enrolled students. New students from Grade R to 6 are expected to pay an assessment fee costing N$ 450 and Grades 7-12 are to pay an entrance fee of N$ 600.
For parents not paying taxes in Namibia or not providing their Namibian Tax Identification Number on the fee form, Grade 1 will cost N$132,120 per annum and Grade 12 comes in at N$170,545.
It’s worth noting that all annual tuition fees for tax-paying and non-tax-paying parents at St. Paul’s College has increased by 8% from 2023 to 2024.
Windhoek Gymnasium, a Curro-owned institution experienced an 8% year-over-year increase in their annual tuition fees and is ranked third in our survey.
The school categories their fees into three fee structures starting from N$48,000 annually for Pre-primary, N$71,760 for Primary School, and N$88,200 per annum for high school, with no distinction between Namibian and non-Namibian learners.
St. George’s Diocesan School, is ranked fourth in terms of costs, having recorded a 7% year-over-year increase in its fee structure.
The fee structure is categorized by grades, starting at N$46,288 for Grade RR and increasing to N$66,682 for Grade R, N$67,282 for Grade 1-5, N$83,535 for Grade 9, and reaching N$85,964 for Grade 10-12.
Individuals who are not Namibian or are exempt from taxes in Namibia are required to budget N$107,651 for Grade 1 in 2024 and N$137,542 for Grade 12.
Additionally, A-levels incur charges of N$30,088 and N$48,140 per subject per annum for tax-paying citizens and non-Namibians, respectively.
Waldorf School, is ranked fifth in terms of costs, having recorded a 5% increase in annual tuition fees from 2023 to 2024.
The fees range from N$22,680 for pre-primary half-day to N$29,220 for full day (inclusive of meals),N$ 42,960 for Primary School 1 – 3 and N$43,860 for Primary School 4 – 6 , N$45,120 for Middle School, and N$47,820 for High School Grade.
Additional fees for parents to cover include stationery ranging from N$260 to N$350 and outing contributions ranging from N$200 to N$460.
Amazing Kids annual tuition fee for 2024, starts at N$41 818 for Grade 1 and increases to N$54,945 for Grade 12.
The results indicate that Amazing Kids Private School & Academy stands out as the most affordable private school in the Grade 1 Fee structure, while Waldorf Primary School takes the lead for the Grade 12 fee structure.
Methodology: The prices were sourced from the private school websites, and only information available on the website’s fee structure was considered. Additional details, such as discounts on annual tuition fees, may be obtained directly from the school.
