Students in dire need of hostel accommodation

With over 70% of its 19 000 students hailing from outside the Khomas Region, the demand for safe and affordable student housing is high, according to Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) public relations officer Cindy van Wyk.NUST said it requires substantial capital investment to expand student housing capacity, but exact costs are not yet known, as the number of new students expected under free tertiary education has not been determined.The university continues to support financially vulnerable students through the Alumni Network and the NUST Foundation. Initiatives include scholarships, bursaries and the Student Welfare Fund, which provide assistance with accommodation, meals and study materials to ensure that no student’s academic journey is disrupted by financial hardship.To accommodate the growing shift to blended and online learning, NUST uses Moodle and Microsoft Teams. The university is exploring options such as Pocket Wi-Fi devices to help students access educational resources. Digital platforms and e-resources are licensed per student or discounted to reduce costs, while online materials are increasingly more affordable than print.Dire situationThe Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) has drawn attention to the ongoing accommodation crisis at NUST and other institutions. Spokesperson Jessy Abraham said most students in Windhoek are not from the capital and rely on housing to pursue their studies. She noted that the University of Namibia’s on-campus accommodation is insufficient, and the Windhoek Dorado International University of Management (IUM) hostels only accommodate female students.Abraham described a dire situation in the private rental market, with inflated fees of up to N$3 000 per month for substandard shared living spaces and unsafe conditions. “This financial burden, combined with registration fees, study materials, meals, and transport, makes higher education inaccessible for many students from regions outside Windhoek,” she said.Delayed student projectShe also criticised delays in the government-backed student village project, promised by Cabinet in 2022 to accommodate up to 3,000 students. “While architectural plans have been completed, no construction has commenced at the designated location,” Abraham said. NANSO continues to call for the immediate commencement of the student village, stricter regulation of private rental fees, and registration of private accommodation providers to ensure safe, fair and affordable housing.Systemic inequalitiesAbraham further warned that the accommodation crisis has broader consequences. Students from Omusati, Kavango, Zambezi, Kunene and other regions are being systematically excluded. “While certain fields of study are only offered in Windhoek, this highlights the urgent need to decentralise tertiary education and address systemic inequalities, especially as free tertiary education is rolled out from 2026,” she said.

Students in dire need of hostel accommodation

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Republikein 2026-01-02

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Students in dire need of hostel accommodation

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Republikein 2026-01-02

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