NASA Urges Government to Allow Grade 11 Students Access to Degree Funding
By TUW
The National African Students’ Association (NASA) has expressed concern over current government policies that limit access to subsidised tertiary education for Grade 11 learners.
According to NASA, the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) currently allows Grade 11 students to access funding only for diploma-level programmes and lower qualifications. The association argues that this restriction prevents academically capable Grade 11 students from pursuing degree programmes (NQF Level 7) under the government’s funding system.
“Limiting Grade 11 candidates to lower qualification levels risks hindering the academic progress of learners who meet the entry requirements for degree-level studies,” NASA said in a statement.
The association has called on the government to review and amend the policy to ensure that eligible Grade 11 learners can benefit from funding for degree programmes. NASA emphasized that any policy changes should be communicated clearly and in a timely manner to promote fairness, transparency, and alignment between education and funding policies.
NASA reiterated its commitment to advocating for an inclusive and equitable tertiary education system that accommodates the diverse academic pathways of Namibian students.
The statement was issued by Elisabeth Silas, Acting President of NASA.
