Government Extends Internship Period to Six Months and Increases Allowances
Young Namibians seeking workplace experience will have more time to gain practical skills under a revised government internship programme that extends placements from three months to six months.
The changes were announced by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare at the International University of Management’s (IUM) 22nd Summer Graduation Ceremony in Windhoek on 23 October 2026.
Under the new rates, graduate interns will receive N$3,769.50 per month, while student interns will receive N$2,692.50. The student rate was previously N$2,244.85, representing an increase of N$447.65 per month.
Ngurare said the decision was intended to improve support for young people gaining professional experience in the public sector. He also called on government institutions and state-owned enterprises to ensure interns receive meaningful guidance and practical training.
The longer placement period means that, over six months, student interns could receive N$16,155 in total, while graduate interns could receive N$22,617, assuming uninterrupted payments at the announced rates.
The Prime Minister also addressed the wider challenge of preparing graduates for the job market, saying employment creation and skills development remain priorities under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
He encouraged young people to consider starting businesses instead of depending entirely on formal employment. Among the initiatives he highlighted was the government’s collateral-free Youth Development Fund, which supports young entrepreneurs.
Interns from higher education institutions are already contributing to the work of government ministries, offices, agencies and state-owned enterprises, Ngurare said.
Although the revised allowances and extended duration have been announced, the government has yet to specify when the changes will take effect. The previous allowance for graduate interns was also not disclosed.
During his announcement, Ngurare said: “We have therefore decided to revise student interns allowance from N$2244.85 to N$2692.50 while for graduate interns the allowance is revised to N$3769.50 per month. The duration is extended from three months to six months,”
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