NSFAF integration nearing completion, Steenkamp says

Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has assured the public that the integration of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) into the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture is progressing smoothly and is nearing completion. Once finalised, NSFAF will fully operate from within the ministry.Her remarks follow a media statement released on Friday confirming that the ministry’s Task Force on Free Tertiary Education has completed its work and finalised a report outlining the implementation plan for government-subsidised tertiary education. The report was developed after wide consultations with public and private tertiary institutions, student unions, workers’ unions, banks, UNESCO, and the African Peer Review Mechanism.Steenkamp said the integration of NSFAF into the ministry is an essential part of the government’s broader education reform efforts, aimed at improving coordination, strengthening accountability and reducing administrative costs.She emphasised that once the process is complete, the fund will fully operate from the ministry, ensuring more effective service delivery to students. “NSFAF is an integral part of this process, and the integration is ongoing but nearing completion,” Steenkamp said.According to the ministry, the task force consultations were designed to ensure inclusivity and identify sustainable funding models so that tuition and registration fees no longer remain barriers to education. The report recommends a “subsidised tertiary education” model, in line with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement that, from 2026, government will fully subsidise tuition and registration fees for students at all public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres.Steenkamp said the NSFAF integration will be completed by October 2025. Once finalised, the fund will operate fully from within the ministry, improving financial management, transparency, and responsiveness in student funding. “We want to assure the public that NSFAF’s work continues. The fund remains active and operational while the integration process is being finalised,” she said.She added that the integration will simplify coordination of student funding and resource management. “This reform will create a stronger and more transparent system that benefits all deserving students,” Steenkamp noted.The ministry’s statement also confirmed that the task force’s final report will soon be presented to the president and cabinet for approval. Once approved, a media conference will guide and inform the public on the implementation strategy and next steps.Steenkamp urged students to remain focused on their studies during this period. “Our goal remains clear: to make tertiary education fair, inclusive and accessible to every Namibian.”

NSFAF integration nearing completion, Steenkamp says

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