Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has advised all students currently enrolled in public tertiary education institutions to remain committed to their studies throughout the 2025 academic year and added that applications for studies in 2026 should proceed as usual, including the payment of application fees as required by the respective institutions.
This comes after the ministry announced the formal launch and inaugural meeting of the Taskforce on Free Tertiary Education. The taskforce has been appointed to lead the development of a national implementation roadmap for the phased introduction of free education at public tertiary education institutions in Namibia.
Mbuma Haitengela said that the initiative follows the official pronouncement by Her Excellency, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the State of the Nation Address delivered on 24 April 2024, in which she said: “I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100 percent subsidised by the Government. That means no registration fees and no tuition fees at all public universities and technical and vocational education centres. While this will be a gradual, phased-in approach, your contribution as families and students for now will be towards accommodation and other related costs. We have heard your cries. The fees have fallen.”
Haitengela said that, in line with this declaration and the Government’s commitment, the taskforce has been mandated to develop the technical, financial and policy framework required for the phased implementation of free education in public institutions. The taskforce is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation roadmap by August 2025.
In-depth consultations will be held with relevant stakeholders to gather input for the roadmap in due course.
PICTURED: Executive Director in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, Mbumba Erastus Haitengela.
