Private universities reject changes to students’ fund law

Private higher education institutions and student organisations in Namibia have rejected the newly passed changes to the students’ fund law, citing a lack of consultation and concerns over the fund’s integration into the higher education ministry, writes Shelleygan Petersen for The Namibian.

The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) amendment law, once enacted, would see its integration into the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation. The amendment, passed last week, would see the NSFAF board reconstituted as a selection and advisory board under the higher education ministry.

The Association of Private Higher Education Institutions, in an advertising editorial published on 21 March, said it was not included in consultations on the bill. However, Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Itah Kandjii-Murangi in her motivation in the National Assembly last week said the amendment was drafted with the input of stakeholders during consultative meetings with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the Office of the Prime Minister, tertiary institutions’ student leaders, student associations’ leadership, and other stakeholders.
Full report on The Namibian site