NASA demands equitable student funding
• Students forced to drop out, association claims
The association's president said NSFAF's policies are discriminatory, as they exclude many qualifying students based on factors such as the institutions they attend or their parents' financial status.
The National African Students’ Association (NASA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund’s (NSFAF) policies, claiming they are inconsistent with legislation.
According to a document seen by Namibian Sun, the association launched an initiative that “seeks to interrogate the current funding model and identify loopholes preventing students from [receiving] equal financial assistance”.
Speaking at a launch event in Windhoek last week, NASA president Paulus Vihemba claimed that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund Act mandates the fund to provide financial assistance to all students studying at approved institutions of higher education who meet academic criteria.
The Act obliges the government, NSFAF and parliament to expropriate enough funds for all qualifying students, he said. “The current policies, however, are discriminatory, as they exclude many qualifying students based on factors such as the institutions they attend or their parents’ financial status.”
Forced to drop out
He said there are still students left with the financial burden of tuition and non-tuition fees just because their parents’ combined gross income exceeds N$500 000. He added that this is worsened by the high cost of living, which leaves many parents unable to afford their children’s education. This, he said, forces students to drop out.
NASA is therefore advocating for a revision of the criteria for parental gross income to increase the threshold for eligibility.
“The combined gross income must be increased from N$500 000 to N$800 000. [Students whose] parents’ combined income is more than N$800 000 must [have either their] tuition or non-tuition fees [funded],” it proposed.
On the issue of non-tuition fees, Vihemba said it is only paid to registered students at the University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the International University of Management (IUM). This, he claimed, discriminates against students from other accredited institutions and vocational training centres.
Funding inclusivity
NASA’s demands include inclusivity in terms of financial assistance and an increase in tuition funding. The association also demanded an increase in non-tuition-fee funding from N$17 000 to N$25 000 per year amid harsh economic conditions.
“We also want the government to increase the annual budget allocation to NSFAF, and allocation of fishing quotas to NSFAF to increase revenue,” the association said.
It further suggested that non-tuition fees be paid monthly to help students manage their expenses more effectively.
According to a document seen by Namibian Sun, the association launched an initiative that “seeks to interrogate the current funding model and identify loopholes preventing students from [receiving] equal financial assistance”.
Speaking at a launch event in Windhoek last week, NASA president Paulus Vihemba claimed that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund Act mandates the fund to provide financial assistance to all students studying at approved institutions of higher education who meet academic criteria.
The Act obliges the government, NSFAF and parliament to expropriate enough funds for all qualifying students, he said. “The current policies, however, are discriminatory, as they exclude many qualifying students based on factors such as the institutions they attend or their parents’ financial status.”
Forced to drop out
He said there are still students left with the financial burden of tuition and non-tuition fees just because their parents’ combined gross income exceeds N$500 000. He added that this is worsened by the high cost of living, which leaves many parents unable to afford their children’s education. This, he said, forces students to drop out.
NASA is therefore advocating for a revision of the criteria for parental gross income to increase the threshold for eligibility.
“The combined gross income must be increased from N$500 000 to N$800 000. [Students whose] parents’ combined income is more than N$800 000 must [have either their] tuition or non-tuition fees [funded],” it proposed.
On the issue of non-tuition fees, Vihemba said it is only paid to registered students at the University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the International University of Management (IUM). This, he claimed, discriminates against students from other accredited institutions and vocational training centres.
Funding inclusivity
NASA’s demands include inclusivity in terms of financial assistance and an increase in tuition funding. The association also demanded an increase in non-tuition-fee funding from N$17 000 to N$25 000 per year amid harsh economic conditions.
“We also want the government to increase the annual budget allocation to NSFAF, and allocation of fishing quotas to NSFAF to increase revenue,” the association said.
It further suggested that non-tuition fees be paid monthly to help students manage their expenses more effectively.
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