The Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) held a meeting with student representatives today to discuss the state of subsidised tertiary education and to come up with solutions and recommendations, and find clarity around the government's 'free education' plan.

NANSO President Dorthea Nangolo said the initial understanding of the concept was that free education would be offered across the board, but given recent announcements by the Ministry of Education, there seems to be a change in approach. 

Nangolo expressed concern that postgraduate students do not currently qualify for the relief.

"So all these issues then affect our understanding of what free should look like, and we recognise that the ministry does not use the word 'free'. It uses fully subsidised special education, but when we speak about 'fully', it means it must be fully subsidised across the board, and I think our struggle is now with institutions, as you know, that are still demanding registration fees."

Nangolo further says there seems to be a disconnect between government and institutions, citing a lack of clarity around the government's declaration that no qualifying student should pay tuition or registration fees under the 'fully subsidised education' initiative.

In this regard, UNAM Student Representative Council President Enrico Goseb said registration fees are institutional requirements, adding that such fees are meant to ease the administrative process.

NUST Student Representative Council President Jerome !Nanuseb emphasised that the institution will follow the government's announcement but will not be increasing its enrolment numbers.

As for accommodation, !Nanuseb said that the SRC still needs to meet with NUST management and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward.