Namibia’s newly elected president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has announced the country will offer free education in all universities and tertiary institutions beginning next year.
This significant move is aimed at empowering the youth and alleviating unemployment. According to the latest data from the Namibia Statistic Agency, youth unemployment in Namibia stands at 44.4%.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made this declaration during her inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament. She said the government will cover all registration and tuition fees at public universities and colleges.
“While tertiary education in Namibia is already significantly subsidized, I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100% subsidized by the government,” she said.
Namibia already provides free education in public elementary and high schools, with parents only paying for stationery, books, and school uniforms.
Additionally, the president launched a 257 million Namibian dollars (US$13.7 million) program to support youth-owned micro and informal businesses. Nandi-Ndwaitwah noted addressing unemployment is one of the key priorities of the current administration.
The country will roll out a national youth internship and apprenticeship program to give young people practical experience in the public and private sectors.
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