The government has extended non-tuition support to qualifying and eligible students at small institutions of higher learning, such as VTC and registered colleges.

Students at these institutions will now receive N$10,000 annually.

The Minister of Higher Education, Training, and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi, made this announcement during a media briefing by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi says the government, through the Ministry of Finance, has increased the allocation to NSFAF from N$1.6 billion to N$2.4 billion, which is a 50% increase. 

However, Kandjii-Murangi indicates that there is a need for NSFAF to become a multi-layer funding institution to meet the growing demand. 
 
She says this is to treat all students in higher education and training institutions the same, irrespective of where they are studying.
 
The Acting Chief Executive Officer at NSFAF Kennedy Kandume says that this year, 31,114 applications were received for funding, of which 23,785 met the requirements, and 7,329 applicants were rejected.
 
Kandume urged all students who met the requirements and did not obtain funding to be funded before Friday. 
 
However, he says those who did not obtain their bank cards and did not submit their contracts are encouraged to do so.
 
Over ten years, NSFAF has funded 176,310 students at N$17.5 billion.

Students at Unam, NUST, IUM, and Triumphant College are currently receiving N$2,500 monthly for non-tuition fees.