New Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that her government will introduce free higher education at state universities and technical colleges starting from the 2026 academic year.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president last month, made the announcement during her State of the Nation Address to Parliament.
“I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100% subsidized by the government,” she stated.
Namibia already offers free education at public elementary and high school levels, although parents still cover costs for uniforms, books, and hostel fees. The president acknowledged this reality and said the free tertiary education program would be phased in gradually, with students expected only to contribute toward accommodation and related costs.
“We have heard your cries, ‘the fees have fallen,’” she declared, directing the message particularly at the country’s youth.
The announcement was welcomed by many student groups and leaders, who have long advocated for free higher education. Job Amupanda, leader of the Affirmative Repositioning movement, suggested a self-sustaining education fund, modeled after Namibia's Social Security system, where employed citizens and their employers would each contribute small amounts monthly to finance education sustainably.
Currently, the government subsidizes Namibia’s major universities — the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) — with allocations of N$505 million and N$1.4 billion respectively. The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) also receives N$2.4 billion. Experts predict these figures will rise once free education is implemented.
Economist Tannan Groenewald praised the initiative as positive but raised concerns over capacity constraints and funding sustainability, suggesting that the policy may initially be targeted at students from low-income households.
Student leaders hailed the move as a transformative step. Duminga Ndala, youth leader of the Landless People’s Movement, described it as a bold and necessary decision to ensure education is accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status. Other activists, such as Onesmus Iyambo and William Minnie, emphasized the importance of vigilance to ensure full implementation and avoid mere political rhetoric.
Jessy Abraham, spokesperson for the Namibia National Students Organization (NANSO), called for the fast-tracking of the implementation, describing it as the fulfillment of a long-standing demand by student leaders across generations.
The announcement draws parallels to South Africa’s 2017 promise under former president Jacob Zuma to provide free university education, a pledge that struggled with implementation.
Overall, Namibia’s bold step towards fully subsidized higher education has been welcomed as historic, though the coming years will test the government's ability to fund and manage the increased demand.
