NSFAF doing its job despite Nanso criticism

Following a vote of no confidence by Nanso, the Ministry of education says that ‘Despite various criticisms the NSFAF receives, the fund will continue to carry out its objective in its best possible approach.’

The Namibian National Students Organisation (Nanso) last week launched a verbal attack on the Namibian Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), accusing the Fund of ‘failing the students and the nation at large’ by ‘failing to do their work’.
Criticising the Fund for the lack of a database, ‘incompetent’ management staff, and for disregarding Nanso in the fund allocation process, the student organisation blasted the Fund by stating: ‘The rank and file of Nanso, the students of Namibia, have absolutely no confidence in the NSFAF Management and we call upon them to resign from their positions.’
Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Education to questions from The Namibian, Acting Permanent Secretary Alfred Ilukena disputed Nanso’s claims that the NSFAF has failed in its mandate, saying that it ‘continues to provide financial assistance to those that are not able to afford the soaring prices of tertiary education in Namibia and within the SADC region.’
He said that between 1997 – when the Fund was started – and last year, the NSFAF has awarded loans to 26 440 students, with loans collectively amounting to N$450 million. But recovery of these loans has been slow, with the Ministry reporting that only 375 loan holders have paid off their debt, while 1 472 are currently paying off their loans. 10 718 beneficiaries still have to start paying off their loans.
Asked about the nature of its database management system – one of the issues for which Nanso criticised the fund – the Ministry responded that ‘Because of the volume of work, the fund has been busy making efforts to use existing technologies to improve its data management. A computerised system is being put in place.’
Ilukena also stated that while it tries to achieve its mandate, ‘resources are limited and the Ministry can only supply what is within its means.’
Clearing up any misconceptions that Namibian students at tertiary institutions might again find themselves unable to write their exams due to payment problems from the NSFAF, Ilukena also stated that: ‘The Ministry would like to make it clear that students at tertiary institutions in possession of NSFAF letters are allowed to write their exams following an arrangement done by the Ministry and those institutions.’
He added that aside from easing the financial burden of students through the NSFAF, the Ministry also provides subsidies to the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia, to the amount of around N$306 million and N$147 million respectively for the 2009/10 financial year.
The Ministry also hit back at Nanso with regards to its accusations that NSFAF had left it out of the NSFAF fund allocation process.
‘Nanso is part of the Selection committee and they are expected to play their role within this committee. The NSFAF Board which has been appointed by the Minister is the administrator of the fund. There has been no selection to which Nanso has not been invited, however many times the organisation fails to show up, making the process to continue without them.’
nangula@namibian.com.na