The Student Union of Namibia (SUN) has called on the Namibia Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to immediately commence with the monthly payments of the non-tuition fee by the end of this month to avert a strike.

NASFAF has not released the student non-tuition fee since January this year. 
 
SUN President Benhard Kavau indicates that education is a fundamental right and, without financial assistance, it limits students' ability to pursue their academics. 

The union also wants the non-tuition fee extended to all Namibian students.

Higher Education, Training, and Innovation Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi has said the development of professional and technical human resources, research, science, technology, and innovation infrastructure is the cornerstone of the transformation of the Namibian economy.

Kandjii-Murangi made the remarks during a high-level tertiary education funding budget review dinner held in the capital on Thursday.

The National African Student's Association (NASA) is advocating to NSFAF for an increase in financial assistance to students to help them overcome challenging economic conditions. NASA is urging policymakers to reassess and augment existing financial aid programmes.

The student association has submitted a set of recommendations aimed at improving the operations of relevant funds.

One key proposal is the adjustment of non-tuition fees at NSFAF.

The Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) will trace 3,638 unidentified beneficiaries through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security.

Acting CEO Kennedy Kandume could not, however, confirm the exact amount owed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

The committee questioned how the Fund could grant funds to individuals without identity documents, to which Kandume replied that this was the system they found.

He added that this was no longer the case at the Fund.

MPs in the National Council have proposed the revision of criteria used by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to fund the students.

They say the majority of students who ought to benefit from the fund do not receive financial aid, questioning the fund's fairness.

The NSFAF receives a large portion of the Ministry of Higher Education budget, and MPs believe the money is sufficient to cater to a larger population of students.

Namibia needs to produce skills that meet the demands of the job market.

The Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi said this when she motivated the ministry's budget allocation of N$3.8 billion for 2023-2024 in the National Assembly.

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi, re-emphasized innovation, artificial intelligence as well as technical and vocational education and training as pillars that can drive the country's development.

She also highlighted hydrogen and decarbonizing as other requisites.

The government has spent over N$ 7 billion in funding students' tuition at public and private institutions of higher learning in the past 5 years.

In a media statement, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi says eligible and qualifying students whose parents' combined income is below N$ 500 000 per annum are given priority for government funding.

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi urges all eligible students to take responsibility for their education by ensuring that contracts with NSFAF are fully completed and signed.

Employees of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology have not received their salaries for December.

Workers held a countrywide demonstration to demand their salary payments.

At Arandis, workers marched from the shopping centre to one of the two campuses, at the town.

The employees are not only demanding their December salary which is usually paid late but also want contributions towards the medical aid and pension fund as well.

Namibian African Students Association (NASA) is assisting students in the Kavango East Region on how to apply for fellowships through the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).

The student movement has realized the challenges some students face during the application process.

Manfred Haingura, the Deputy Secretary of the student's association, was defrauded in 2021 when he applied but could not get the loan.

Haingura says to avoid such acts, NASA has been assisting learners to apply since last year.

The Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) has received 38,118 applications for funding assistance.

To this end, the Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer at NSFAF urged potential applicants to apply before the 31st of this month.

Olavi Hamwele says the fund does not have a defined figure in terms of the amount of assistance offered to students, saying it all depends on the budget they are given.

Annually, the institution receives about 20 to 24 thousand applications, while it can only offer assistance to about 16 to 17 thousand students.