Namibian president announces free higher education, saying ‘fees have fallen’

The new president of Namibia announced that university fees will be canceled from 2026.

President Nyumbo Nandi-Nindeh, the first female president in the country, released this announcement during her first speech to the state Thursday evening.

Nandihoh, Nandi Ndita, said that students will pay “there is no registration [or] The tuition fees “in all public universities and technical colleges.

However, she said that there will be no “important” additional funding, raising questions about the feasibility of the plan.

The free university education will be gradually eliminated and that “the only contribution as families and students at the present time will be towards residency and other related costs.”

“We have heard your screams:” The fees have decreased, “referring to the previous demands of university students in Namibia, as well as the neighboring South Africa.

She said that the money will come from the support granted to some public universities in the country and the money allocated to the Financial Aid Fund for students.

“If we will add, we will not add a task [amount of funds]She said.

Primary and secondary education is already free in all public schools in the country.

While some student organizations welcomed the Nandi-Nindu advertisement, the last of which was critical that it is useless and mysterious.

One of these is the leadership of the student to report positive (ARSC), which it said is just a trick looking for attention by the Namibi government.

“There is no plan, it is just a confused advertisement [the] The issue of what [Nandi-Ndaitwah] Higher education means, “The organization told the BBC.

Detail, ARSC asked about students who will benefit – after grades or university students only – as well as where the financing will come from.

He echoed the feelings expressed by Tanin Groenn and the economist who spoke to the local news site The Windhoek Observer.

He suggested that getting rid of fees without providing additional financing leads to students.

He also speculated that only students of low -income families may eventually apply.

This is what happened in neighboring South Africa.

In 2017, the government surrendered to calls for the cancellation of higher education fees that were held during what was known as the #FEESMUSTFAL protesters – but only a small number of students benefited.

Since then it has been criticized as very restricted because the so -called “missing medium” has been excluded, as they were excluded – those who are considered very rich to qualify for financial help but are struggling to withstand tuition fees.