Free university education to be offered in Namibia from 2026
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that her government will introduce free higher education at state universities and technical colleges starting next year, The Associated Press reports
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was sworn in as Namibia's first female leader not long ago, made the announcement while addressing Parliament on the state of affairs in the country. "I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100 percent subsidised by the government," she said.
Namibia already provides free education in public elementary and high schools, but parents usually have to pay for school uniforms, stationery, books, and dormitories.
The new policy provides for the abolition of tuition and registration fees at universities and colleges. There have been many-year calls for the government to subsidise all levels of education in the country of about 3 million people in southern Africa.
"We have heard your cries," Nandi-Ndaitwah stated. According to her, this policy is aimed at expanding opportunities for young people in conditions of youth unemployment and poverty. According to official figures, about 2.1 million Namibians are under the age of 35.
