Africa-Press – Namibia. The government’s introduction of free tertiary education in 2026 has caused the Students Union of Namibia (SUN) to express concern on what it describes as significant implementation and funding shortages.
The union said that the planned budget allocations for the programme seem inadequate and unequally allocated throughout Namibia’s higher education institutions in a statement released by SUN Legal Secretary Intelligent Katire.
The statement claims that to fulfil its operational and academic needs under the forthcoming free education programme, the University of Namibia (UNAM) has asked the government for an extra N$850 million. According to SUN, this proposal exceeds the N$663 million original national budget that the government had put up for the rollout’s initial phase.
According to Katire, “the financial gap between what has been allocated and what institutions require is alarming. We worry that this disparity could make it more difficult for public universities, which already struggle with a lack of funding, to successfully implement the policy.”
SUN criticised the current budget framework’s exclusion of other tertiary institutions, particularly the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), vocational training centres, and private higher learning educational institutions, while acknowledging the significance of appropriately funding UNAM and other public institutions.
Katire emphasised, “This raises questions about equity, transparency, and sustainability. One institution cannot profit at the expense of another under the free education principle. Every student should have equitable access to education, regardless of where they attend school.”
The union also voiced alarm over reports that the student refund system long regarded as a crucial financial lifeline for many students might be discontinued once the free education policy takes effect.
Katire called on the education ministry to be transparent about how the new system will safeguard the welfare of students. Without explicit guarantees, he claimed, the policy can unintentionally hurt the same groups it is intended to strengthen.
With less than two months until the start of the 2026 academic year, SUN has urged the government and other relevant parties to act quickly to resolve any doubts about the policy’s execution.
SUN reaffirmed its unwavering support for the idea of free and accessible education despite its reservations, referring to it as a progressive and long-overdue policy.
The student union however stressed that good intentions need to be supported by realistic and open implementation.
“We strongly reaffirm our support for free tertiary education. However, this policy needs to be carried out with responsibility, inclusivity, and financial certainty. In the process, no school or student should be at a disadvantage,” Katire concluded.
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