Windhoek, June 24 — The Government of the Republic of Namibia through the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has announced the formal launch and its inaugural meeting of the Taskforce on Free Tertiary Education. The Taskforce has been appointed to lead the development of a national implementation roadmap for the phased introduction of free education at public tertiary institutions in Namibia.
This initiative follows the official pronouncement by her excellency, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the State of the Nation Address delivered on 24 April 2025 in which she states:”I am pleased to announce that from next Academic year, commencing 2026 tertiary education will become 100 percent subsidized by the Government. That means, no registration fees and no tuition fee at all public Universities and Technical and Vocational Education Centres. While this will be gradual, phased in approach, your contribution as families and students for now will be towards accommodation and other related costs. We have heard your cries, the fees have fallen”.
The Taskforce is now mandated to develop the technical, financial and policy framework required for the phased implementation of free education in public institutions. The Taskforce is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation roadmap by August 2025.
In the meantime, the Ministry advises all students to remain committed to their studies throughout the 2025 academic year. The application studies for in 2026 should proceed as usual, including the payment of the application fees as required by the respective institutions. The Ministry has appeal to the public to exercise patience, while the task force carries out its work.
