The state of Washington will soon provide guaranteed college tuition for low-income students.

Allexer Namundjembo  From 2026, students enrolling at public universities and technical and vocational education centres will no longer have to pay tuition or registration fees. This was announced by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Thursday when she delivered her maiden state of the nation address (SONA) in the National Assembly. “We have heard your cries, ‘the fees have fallen’,” she said. She said this will be a gradual, phased-in approach and added that students’ contributions will be towards accommodation and other related costs only.  This move, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, is a “specific message to our youth”.  “That is the golden opportunity accorded to you by your caring government in independent Namibia. You are therefore to maximally use this opportunity to bring out your talents to contribute meaningfully to the development of your country and support your parents,” she said. SUSTAINABLE MODEL The leader of the Affirmative Repositioning Job Amupanda said Namibian students should be educated freely, not through loans. He suggested the creation of a self-sustaining free education model. “We do not need foreign funds to educate our children. We simply need to introduce an education fund similar to how Social Security operates,” he said. Amupanda used a scenario where 500 000 employed Namibians each contribute N$50, and their employers do the same, adding up to N$50 million per month and N$600 million per year. “If this fund is left untouched during a two-year’ inception period, it will be about N$2 billion. The state can contribute N$5 billion to the fund during the same inception period,” Amupanda explained. He advocated for this to be set in stone through legislation. “All it requires is a law. When passed, the econometrics will follow,” he said. FEASIBILITY Currently, the government subsidises two tertiary institutions, namely the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM). NUST gets N$505 million, while UNAM gets N$1.4 billion. Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) receives N$2.4 billion. This is likely to increase. However, these amounts were not sufficient, as the former higher education minister, Itah Kandji-Murangi, complained about during budget motivations in previous years. She said these amounts do not allow these universities to fund research and innovation projects. Economist Tannan Groenewald said that where the funding comes from is the key question. “Manifestation plan says it’s N$5 billion per annum over the next five years,”  He said it is good for the people, but is curious about the indirect effects. “Tertiary slots for students will probably be limited, in other words, capacity constraints to accommodate everyone,” the economist said. Groenewald said that while not all the details are out, it will likely target those below a certain household income level to support those who can’t afford it. “It might increase entry requirements over the long run as capacity constraints limit the number of students who can enrol. The Namibian youth is quite educated already, but unemployment is very high even for the educated youth,” he reasoned. He described the president’s address as overall quite positive, with measurable targets. “Some policies mentioned may help improve the job environment for the educated youth, so it will ultimately depend on that – and how Namibia will fund it – but nonetheless positive for those who can not afford it,” the economist added. LONG OVERDUE Student leaders have welcomed the decision, terming it a “long overdue step” following the announcement by the president.  The Landless People’s Movement youth leader, Duminga Ndala, welcomed the president’s announcement to remove fees. He said this has always been their call and was pleased to see it finally materialising. “It is a commendable, bold, and transformative step toward achieving inclusive and equitable access to education for all, regardless of socio-economic background,” Ndala said. Ndala also added that for too long, students from marginalised communities have been unable to complete their studies due to financial constraints. “This decision reaffirms the principle that no one should be denied an education because of financial hardship,” she added. Ndala, however, said it is equally important to ensure that the step is supported by sustainable funding models. “This will be crucial in maintaining the quality of education and in ensuring that our young people are equipped to be globally competitive,” she said. Onesmus Iyambo, from the Affirmative Repositioning Student Command, said the organisation welcomes the announcement, terming it a “long overdue” decision. “The generation of the past and current student leaders have been calling for fees to fall,” he said. Iyambo added that Namibia has enough resources that can be used to cater to students’ needs. “We are, however, yet to witness this next year and eagerly waiting to see this as it gets implemented. We will be there to demand the full implementation. We hope it is not just pure rhetoric from the ruling party. It is a victory for the previous and current student leaders who have been calling for this,” Iyambo said. Iyambo added that, with this relief from the President, he is eager to see the implementation of the rent control bill, which will also benefit students. “Our students are suffering, and if that is also addressed, it shall benefit them,” he added. Student activist William Minnie also welcomed the announcement. Minnie said he welcomed the historic and long-overdue decision by the president. “For years, student leaders, progressive youth movements, and student organisations have been on the frontlines demanding the decommodification of education. We begin to see the fruits of that relentless struggle,” he said. He added that education should never be treated as a commodity since it is a public good and a fundamental right. “Scrapping tuition and registration fees is a crucial step toward building a more equal society where access to higher learning is based on merit and not on the ability to pay. “We must, however, remain vigilant. This must not be another hollow promise meant to pacify the masses,” he said. Minnie also said that in 2026, every Namibian child who earns the right to study must be guaranteed free access to tertiary education without a single cent charged at the gates of opportunity. “This victory belongs to the young people. It is a testament to the power of organised struggle, and it must be celebrated as a turning point in our collective fight for free tertiary education in our lifetime,” he said. Nanso spokesperson, Jessy Abraham, has welcomed the announcement and asked to fast-track the implementation of free tertiary education, calling it a major step toward realising a long-standing student demand. “The call for free tertiary education is not new—it has echoed through generations of NANSO leadership. This is a dream we have defended and never betrayed.” The organisation cited Resolution 16, which affirms the organisation’s commitment to education access, “We are proud that the voices of young people are shaping national priorities. We will continue to be persistent, unwavering, and patriotically stubborn until all youth aspirations are realised,” he said. NEIGHBOURLY CHALLENGES In neighbouring South Africa, in 2017, not long before his resignation, former president Jacob Zuma declared education, including at universities, to be free. However, the former president’s declaration fell on infertile soil, as the implementation did not happen. The free education was directed at the poor and working-class South African students and would have started in 2018. This followed significant student protests, notably the #FeesMustFall movement, which highlighted the financial barriers to tertiary education. The income threshold for qualifying students was set, aiming to include a significant portion of the student population. The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund has played a central role in implementing the policy, providing funding to eligible students, and the government increased their funding allocation. However, the increased demand for higher education has put pressure on university infrastructure, leading to concerns about overcrowding and resource availability.

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