When the announcemnet of subsidised tertiary education in Namibia was made in early 2026, it felt like a breakthrough moment for many young people, myself included.
For the first time, higher education seemed more accessible, more realistic, and less dependent on financial background.
Like many others, I took that announcement seriously.
When I registered at the University of Namibia (Unam), my documents were checked at the registration point and I was informed that I qualified for subsidised funding.
Based on that confirmation, I proceeded to register and began attending classes with confidence that my tuition would be covered.
I was so excited that I even shared the moment on Facebook, writing:
“Today I registered without paying N$6 975 because of the new tertiary education subsidy.
Thank you, H.E. Dr Mee Netumbo, for making education more accessible and giving us hope for a better future.
What a time to be a Namibian.”
The post received a lot of engagement, and for a moment, it truly felt like a new chapter for students had begun.
However, that excitement did not last.
A few months later, I received communication from the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund saying I don’t qualify for subsidised funding due to not meeting the required academic points.
By then, I had already started my studies and fully committed myself academically.
The interesting part is that I had already been formally admitted to a degree programme by Unam itself, which made the situation even more confusing, being accepted into a qualification, yet later told I do not qualify for the funding attached to it.
It simply did not make sense from a student’s point of view at the time.
What made this particularly difficult is that the initial understanding during registration was different.
Many students, including myself, were informed at the point of registration that we qualified based on document verification.
Had I known from the beginning that I did not qualify, I would have made different financial decisions before enrolling.
Instead, I now find myself needing to adjust unexpectedly to costs I did not initially plan for.
This experience is not unique to me.
While the subsidised tertiary education funding model is a positive step toward improving access to education, its roll-out highlights an important issue: clarity at the point of entry.
When policies change or are introduced, students need clear and consistent information before making decisions that affect their futures.
As a working student balancing employment, family responsibilities, and studies, I still support the idea of subsidised education.
However, it also needs to be implemented in a way that ensures students fully understand the conditions before they commit to studying.
Free or subsidised education should not only create excitement, but should also provide certainty.
I hope that as this policy continues to develop, it will be strengthened by clearer communication and more consistent implementation.
– Indira Tjongarero
