Privately-funded students plead for help from government

Enzo Amuele



Students abroad are requesting assistance from government to be repatriated back to Namibia after having completed their studies.

The ministry of higher education, technology and innovation, the ministry of international relations and cooperation and the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) have been overwhelmed with requests for repatriation, and said it has come to their attention that some of the students who are privately-funded went without government's knowledge.

In a media release, the NSFAF said as part of its contribution towards fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the fund launched a once-off payment initiative of up to N$4 337.50 per student to assist Namibian students abroad.

This initiative applies to both NSFAF-funded and privately-funded students, and will come in the form of a loan, which all students will be liable to pay back.



314 students aided

According to the statement, thus far, the fund has processed payments to 314 Namibian students studying abroad, to the tune of N$422 145.

NSFAF also offers flight tickets to graduating students abroad. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fund has issued flight tickets to 20 students who graduated from the Ukraine, and they were successfully repatriated at a total cost of N$520 760.

Higher education ministry executive director Alfred van Kent said while government appreciates the efforts of parents, guardians and private companies to ensure that Namibian students acquire quality education abroad, “such students or employees remain the responsibility of the parents, guardians and sponsoring agencies to ensure they complete their studies and return to Namibia upon completion of their studies”.

“It is our view as the government that various sponsors should take responsibility. Such students are therefore advised by the government to make their arrangements through their parents and sponsors to secure required funds to return to Namibia,” he said.

Disappointed

The president of the Namibia National Students Organisation, Simon Taapopi, expressed his disappointment and concern regarding the students' safety.

He urged government to consider all avenues possible, including the use of money from the sale of fishing quotas, to ensure international students return home safely.

“ The well-being of students, especially international students, this time around is of utmost importance. International students cannot be deserted in such a manner as this further leaves them at risk of contracting Covid-19,” he said.

He further added that after learning that young people can succumb to the virus despite being in good health and having no pre-existing conditions, it has motivated him to continue fighting for their safe return.

“We thus call on the Namibian government alongside our national carrier Air Namibia to look into all avenues of safely getting our international students home,” he said.