NASA Urges Government to Include Returning Students and Second Qualifications in Subsidised Tertiary Education
By TUW
The National African Students’ Association (NASA) has welcomed government’s move to introduce subsidised tertiary education, while calling for stronger provisions to support repeating and returning students, as well as unemployed graduates seeking second qualifications.
In a statement issued on Monday, NASA said the policy announcement made on 8 December 2025 signals a “transformative step” towards inclusive and accessible higher education, but warned that its success will depend on how well it addresses the realities facing students who previously dropped out or remain unemployed despite holding qualifications.
NASA Secretary General Advocate Rose Kameya said many graduates are struggling to enter the labour market, leaving them economically and socially vulnerable.
“There is a growing number of Namibian graduates who remain unemployed years after completing their studies. Funding second qualifications for unemployed graduates is not a luxury, but a necessary intervention to improve employability and skills relevance,” Kameya said.
The association proposed that unemployed graduates be considered for funding of second qualifications after first-time undergraduate students, suggesting collaboration with institutions such as the Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA) to ensure proper verification and prioritisation.
NASA also highlighted the plight of students who were forced to abandon their studies due to financial hardship, incorrect course choices or other socio-economic challenges. According to the association, the new funding framework should allow such students to return to higher education and either complete their initial programmes or transition into more suitable fields.
“Subsidised tertiary education must recognise that education journeys are not always linear. Students who had to stop their studies deserve a second chance to return, complete their qualifications, or realign their careers through well-motivated applications,” Kameya said.
The association stressed that excluding repeating or returning students could entrench long-term inequality and undermine national human capital development.
NASA reiterated its support for government’s broader vision of affordable tertiary education and expressed readiness to engage further with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture to ensure that the policy is implemented in a fair, inclusive and sustainable manner.
The association concluded that provisions for second qualifications and returning students would not only benefit individuals, but also strengthen Namibia’s workforce and socio-economic resilience in the long term.
