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Summary
Namibia’s new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was inaugurated in March 2025, has pledged to scrap tuition and registration fees at public universities starting in 2026 as part of a phased plan to expand access to education.
Namibia’s new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has pledged to scrap tuition and registration fees at public universities starting in 2026.
Announcing the major policy shift during her maiden State of the Nation address on April 24, 2025, Nandi-Ndaitwah said students at public universities, technical colleges, and vocational education centres would no longer pay for tuition or registration.
“This will be a gradual, phased-in approach,” she told lawmakers, adding that families and students would still contribute towards accommodation and related costs.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government would fund the initiative by reallocating existing subsidies to public universities and money from the student financial assistance fund. Namibia already offers free education at primary and secondary school levels, although parents pay for expenses such as uniforms, stationery, and hostel fees.
The president’s announcement marks a significant expansion of access to education and underscores her administration’s focus on human capital development.
On March 21, 2025, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was inaugurated as Namibia’s first female president during the nation’s 35th Independence Day celebration at State House. At 72, she brings decades of political experience, having held various ministerial roles, including in foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is also the second African woman to be directly elected as president, following Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
