NSFAF will not fall away – Steenkamp

Plans for the reintegration of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) into the education ministry remain despite president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announcing that tertiary education will be wholly subsidised from 2026.

NSFAF has over the years been making funds available for less privileged tertiary education students.

Education minister Sanet Steenkamp met with the entity’s board and management to discuss funding models on Wednesday.

“NSFAF will follow on a slightly extended timeline: the board’s tenure ends in August, with a final cut-off in October 2025.

“We already have a detailed reintegration roadmap, including enactment of the amended act, that we began planning in 2021.

“Rest assured, NSFAF is not being disbanded; it is being fully integrated into the ministry,” she said.

This means the entity’s procurement unit will join the ministry’s procurement division, while its communications office will merge with the ministry’s communications directorate.

Steenkamp said this new structure must first be approved by the secretary to the Cabinet and the Public Service Commission.

“We aim to complete that approval by May. In June, we will notify all employees and begin negotiating new conditions of service, contracts, and job offers in accordance with labour law to ensure everyone receives what they are due.

“Those interested will be offered positions within the government’s new organisational structure. Our teams remain hard at work on every aspect of this reintegration roadmap,” she said.

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