Aishat AshimIn her inaugural State of the Nation Address, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia announced that the government will introduce free higher education at public universities and technical colleges beginning in 2026.
“Starting from the next academic year in 2026, the government will provide full subsidies for tertiary education,” stated President Nandi-Ndaitwah, the country’s first female Head of State.
This new policy will eliminate tuition and registration fees at all state-run universities and vocational training centers nationwide. While Namibia currently offers free education at primary and secondary levels, families often incur costs for uniforms, textbooks, and boarding facilities.
The decision responds to longstanding public calls for expanded education subsidies in the southern African nation, which has a population of approximately 3 million. Acknowledging these demands, the President remarked, “We have heard your cries.”
The initiative aims to enhance access to education and tackle critical issues such as youth unemployment and poverty. Government statistics reveal that about 2.1 million Namibians are under the age of 35.
Under this policy, two public universities and seven government-operated vocational training centers will provide education at no cost beginning in 2026.
