NSFAF urges former loan holders to pay back

Enzo AmueleThe Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) has called on former students who owe the public institution money to pay it back to secure funding for new applicants.A high number of students owing NSFAF are not repaying the institution even after successfully securing employment. According to an article in The Namibian dated 26 June 2021, NSFAF is targeting more than 130 000 debt defaulters.Importance of repaying the loanAccording to NSFAF’s chief human of capital and corporate affairs, Olavi Hamwele, paying back the loan ensures that NSFAF can fund new students, making it less reliant on treasury funding.He says that by not paying back the loan, you are denying a Namibian child his/her rights to tertiary education. “The allocated budget is not sufficient to finance all students, therefore it is important for the fund to ensure that NSFAF is a revolving fund,” he says.Hamwele adds that in a situation where the debtor is unable to find employment within six months or intends to continue to a different course, he or she may apply in writing to NSFAF for postponement of the obligation to repay the loan.Increased pointsWith the current increased points for admission into tertiary institutions, NSFAF sticks to its debt recovery policy and its procedures. The mandate is to provide financial assistance to eligible students at approved institutions of higher education as provided for under section 4 of the NSFAF Act, 2000 (Act No 26 of 2000).A student qualifies for financial assistance if that student meets the requirements set out in the NSFAF Student Financial Assistance and Debt Recovery Policy and its Procedures.Grade 11According to the fund’s head of stakeholder liaison, Chris Mwiya, the criteria apply to those leaving school after grade 11 too. “This is because the current Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) - Ordinary Level issued after completing grade 11 is equivalent to the Ordinary Level certificate of legacy grade 12. “As long as learners who choose grade 11 as their exiting point results meet NSFAF requirements set out in the NSFAF Student Financial Assistance and Debt Recovery Policy and its Procedures, they are eligible to apply for funding,” he said.He further added that learners in grade 11 are encouraged to apply for funding if they meet the requirements, as NSFAF will provide financial assistance to students who meet NSFAF requirements and have registered at institutions of higher learning. “Eligibility for financial assistance shall be determined by order of the score based on the selection criteria that take into consideration, but are not limited to, social status, parental or own income, academic performance and priority fields of study,” he concluded.

NSFAF urges former loan holders to pay back

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