The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has welcomed the introduction of the Namibia higher education evaluation point scale but wants its implementation delayed by a year to give pupils, teachers and schools more time to adjust.
The new system, introduced by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture in a circular dated 6 July, will require higher education institutions to use a standardised admission point system from the 2027 academic year.
Under the new system, admission points will be calculated using a pupil’s best five subjects, with English being compulsory.
SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo on Saturday said the initiative was a progressive step that could bring greater consistency and transparency to admission requirements while aligning Namibia’s higher education system with international standards.
The scale applies to qualifications including the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate, Cambridge qualifications, International Baccalaureate and German Abitur.
Executive director in the ministry Erastus Haitengela says the system seeks to promote consistency and fairness in admissions and forms part of the first phase of implementing minimum standards for higher education institutions in Namibia, following Cabinet decision No 26th/21.10.25/006.
However, Nekongo raised concerns about the 2027 implementation date, saying the timeframe could be too short for pupils, parents, teachers and schools to prepare.
“An abrupt transition to a new evaluation framework risks creating unintended barriers and may exclude certain pupils from accessing higher education opportunities,” he said.
Nekongo said the concern was relevant to pupils currently in grades 10, 11 and 12, who had already selected subjects under the existing system.
He is calling for full implementation to be deferred to 2028, saying the additional year would allow for proper orientation, updating of application materials and academic and emotional preparation of affected pupils.
Nekongo said SPYL supports a unified points system but stressed that implementation must protect equitable access to higher education.
