Nanso launches campaign to tackle education costs

The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) officially launched their ‘Access to Higher Education’ campaign at RIK Technical College in Windhoek yesterday.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to fight for the universal right to pursue higher education, regardless of background or financial situation.

The campaign will focus on challenging the financial barriers to higher education, such as prohibitive registration fees and the settling of outstanding debts being a prerequisite to registration. Access to education, says Nanso, is critical to uplifting Namibia.

To address these challenges, Nanso is championing the creation of an education levy to create a consistent stream of funding for education in the country.

Nanso president Dorothea Nangolo highlighted some of the organisation’s past victories at the launch, including fighting for graduates to receive their qualifications despite still owing their institutions. Some students, Nangolo said, had completed their degrees as far back as 2015. She announced that the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation had responded, allowing these students to receive their qualifications.

“When we started the battle with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) over student funding and when we started the battle in terms of students receiving their qualifications, so often we were told that our goals were overambitious. … But here we are today – we are communicating to you that we can do that.”

“If we collectively unite as students and trainees, we can achieve a high education we can be proud of,” she said.

Eric Mwita Goseb, student representative at the University of Namibia, highlights some of the financial obstacles students face. Many struggle to pay registration fees or secure funding for classwork, and previous debt prevents students from registering, he said. Additionally, students who change courses often find themselves ineligible for financial aid.

“These financial hurdles restrict access to education, limiting opportunities for those who deserve them the most,” he says.

Insufficient student accommodations presents another critical issue that Goseb says is unacceptable. “We should push for sustainable housing solutions that prioritise students’ well-being. Our infrastructure is falling behind.”

The campaign is also set to address high registeration fees. The International University of Management charges a registration fee of N$2 100, according to its fee booklet. The registration fee and deposit payable at the University of Namibia comes to N$6 975 for undergraduate programmes. The registration fee for the Namibia University of Science and Technology is N$4 500 for undergraduate, diploma and honours students, and N$9 000 for master’s and doctoral students. This includes a non-refundable processing fee of N$1 910.