President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that Namibia will introduce free tertiary education at all state institutions starting next year.
“I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100% subsidised by the Government. That means no registration fees and no tuition fees at all public universities and Technical & Vocational Education Centres,” she said during the delivery of her maiden State of the Nation Address on Thursday.
The President said the roll-out will follow a gradual, phased-in approach, with initial contributions from students going towards accommodation and other related costs.
She urged students to use the opportunity to further their studies and upgrade their skills.
“That is the golden opportunity accorded to you by your caring Government in an independent Namibia. You must use this opportunity to bring out your talents, to contribute meaningfully to the development of your country, and to support your parents,” the President said.
She revealed that the Government will fund the bulk of this initiative using funds previously allocated to the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).
“To make our education 100% free, if you do the calculation, you realise that Government is already paying for the bulk of the education. You have to see how much of a subsidy goes to public institutions. You then take the money that goes to the student financial fund — the same money is going to those same institutions,” the President said.
She noted that the additional amount the Government would need to cover, following these calculations, would not be significant.
Last year, NSFAF had a budget of N$2.5 billion, catering to over 53,000 students, both continuing and new intakes.
“But we agree that we cannot borrow for consumption. But we also need to discuss and figure out if borrowing for education is consumption or an investment,” she said.
The average registration fee for a course at a local public tertiary institution, such as the Namibia University of Science and Technology or the University of Namibia, ranges between N$1,900 and N$3,000 for undergraduate programmes, and up to N$4,500 for some courses.
Postgraduate registration fees can reach N$9,000.
Tuition fees can vary from N$25,000 to N$40,000 per year, per course.
