Africa-Press – Namibia. AS UNFUNDED students continue to face challenges at various institutions of higher learning countrywide, the National African Students’ Association has launched a campaign to help students apply for financial assistance.
The campaign was launched earlier this week at Rundu and will run for two weeks.
NASA believes that one of the reasons why some students are self-funded is because of lack of information about the National Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).
Statistics show that higher education in Namibia is 90% funded by loans given to students by the government through NSFAF. However, today the county still has many students who are studying at approved institutions, and who are enrolled in courses accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), yet they are not funded by NSFAF.
“This is a good initiative because on my enrolment I had issues because I had no idea what NSFAF was or which website to go to. Fortunately, I am from a marginalised family and the Office of the Prime Minister came through for me, but others are facing problems now because they can’t pay their fees by themselves,” said Mukoya Vernad, the student representative council president at the University of Namibia Rundu Campus.
Students have accumulated huge debts from the institutions of higher learning, leading to many students being denied access to education.
NASA has identified several factors that lead to students not being funded. For instance, some students are self-funded by default, as they do not apply or finish the process of application or because of discriminatory funding policies. For example, NSFAF refuses to fund certificate or diploma courses that are accredited by NQA as level 5 and below.
Other factors contributing to self-funding are unaccredited institutions, unaccredited courses and repeating modules.
“The NSFAF Act 26 of 200 states that it is mandated to fund all Namibian students studying at approved institutions and doing courses accredited by NQA. Why do we still have thousands of students not funded?” Vihemba Paulus, the NASA deputy president, asked.
To resolve the above challenges, NASA has set up NSFAF application assistance centres in six regions, namely, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi , Erongo, Oshana and Khomas.
“NASA wishes to persuade all students and student leaders to take this matter seriously and make it our generational fight. Our commitment towards equal, accessible, inclusive and well resourced education is guaranteed,” Paulus added.
Students are advised not to pay any of the trained volunteers at the application assistance centres, as this process is free.
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