The Student Union of Namibia has called on the government to delay the proposed standardisation of higher education admission requirements.
Its President Natangwe Shikesho said the union is not opposed to improving the quality of higher education but questions the timing and implementation of the proposed admission requirements.
Shikesho warned that the changes could disadvantage learners from under-resourced schools, urging the government to instead allow enough time for proper consultation.
He further stated that applications for the next academic year are already underway and could leave students confused if institutions are required to change their admission criteria at short notice.
“We are asking them to extend this requirement maybe to 2029, so that we can do proper research as to how are we going to make sure students of a taxi driver, how will they be capacitated to be able to compete very well.”
SUN Board Chairperson Bernhard Kavau stressed that it is unfair to raise university admission requirements when many learners are still studying under difficult conditions.
Kavau further said some learners attend classes under trees, while others walk more than five kilometers to school and argues that such learners cannot be expected to compete equally with students from well-resourced private schools.
“Let's address all these problems. Let's have quality education and basic education before we raise the points to take that institution. Otherwise, we are also concluding probably the government does not have money to fund everyone since they've introduced free higher education.”
The Parent Council Representative, Ueriesako Katjivikua said the government has made progress since independence but maintains that more needs to be done, particularly in schools that continue to lack basic infrastructure and resources.
He further pointed out that there are schools in rural areas where learners are still sitting on the floor and says it's even the same in Windhoek.
“Until each student has a textbook, until each learner has a textbook, until each learner is not hungry in that class, until each learner focus in that class, they have their lunch boxes, they have their school uniform the have their school shoes, they have their school bags, they have their stationaries then we can raise those points.”