Namibia to Offer Free Higher Education from 2026

The Punch

In a landmark announcement during her first State of the Nation address, Namibia’s newly sworn-in President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, declared that the government will offer free higher education beginning in 2026. This policy will eliminate both tuition and registration fees at all state-run universities and technical colleges.

Nandi-Ndaitwah made it clear that the move is a direct response to the mounting frustration among young Namibians, many of whom are locked out of higher education due to cost. “We have heard your cries,” she said in Parliament. “From the next academic year, tertiary education will become 100% subsidized by the government.”

The initiative covers the country’s two public universities and seven government-run vocational training centers. The policy aims to ease youth unemployment and poverty in a nation where over two-thirds of the population is under the age of 35.

The decision marks a dramatic shift in how Namibia approaches education and workforce development. As other African nations still debate student loan schemes or modest fee reductions, Namibia has taken a bold step by removing financial barriers altogether.

While the logistics of funding and implementation remain to be worked out, the announcement signals a new direction—one that positions education not as a privilege, but as a public good.