The Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi, has tabled the Namibia Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) Amendment Bill in Parliament.
The proposed legislation seeks to formally reintegrate NSFAF into the Ministry of Higher Education, aligning with a 2021 Cabinet decision.
The reintegration process followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Prime Minister, tertiary institutions, student leaders, and student associations.
The bill aims to enhance accountability and oversight of the fund while dissolving NSFAF’s independent status. Instead, it will operate as a dedicated department under the ministry, focusing solely on funding education and training.
"Currently, NSFAF provides for training and education, as well as covering staff salaries. These amendments seek to closely monitor NSFAF’s operations and develop a readily accessible database for tertiary education students," the minister stated.
Swapo MP Tobie Aupindi highlighted flaws in the original NSFAF Act of 2000, calling it a "disaster policy" that relied too heavily on cooperation between separate entities.
He believes integrating NSFAF into the ministry will improve efficiency in managing student financial support.
"People tend to prioritize salary increases and operate as if they are in the commercial sector, driven by profit and shareholder maximization, simply because they are executives," Aupindi remarked.
Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, a vocal advocate for reducing the number of government institutions, welcomed the bill. He criticized the trend of creating new agencies with inflated salaries and emphasized the need to address nepotism in student funding.
Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth, and National Service, Dr. Emma Kantema suggested the bill should also consider adjusting funding timelines to better support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, stressed the importance of analyzing NSFAF’s past challenges within the ministry to identify areas for improvement.
"Just because NSFAF has faced criticism doesn’t mean everything about it is negative. I urge proper contextualization of NSFAF’s history, including its time under the ministry," she cautioned.