Namibia to Scrap University Fees by 2026 — But Can It Deliver?

Namibia’s new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, made history not only as the country’s first female head of state but also with a major policy promise: free university education starting in 2026. In her first State of the Nation address, she announced that students at public universities and technical colleges will no longer pay registration or tuition fees.

The move was immediately hailed by student groups as a step toward equity and educational access. “We have heard your cries: ‘the Fees have Fallen’,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said, directly referencing the demands of Namibian students and drawing a symbolic link to the powerful #FeesMustFall movement that swept across South Africa in the mid-2010s.

But behind the applause, there are serious questions—about how this ambitious pledge will work, who will benefit, and whether it is economically viable.

The president clarified that the rollout will be gradual, with students and families still responsible for accommodation and related living costs. Crucially, she also emphasized that the reform will not require significant new funding. Instead, existing subsidies for public universities and the student financial assistance fund will be restructured to cover the cost.

This raised immediate skepticism. Critics say the numbers simply don’t add up.

The Affirmative Repositioning Student Command (ARSC) called the announcement “a confused attention-seeking ploy” and questioned whether it was truly a commitment or just political theater. “There is no plan,” the group told the BBC, highlighting the lack of detail about which students—undergraduate, postgraduate, or both—would benefit.

Economists are also unconvinced. Tannen Groenewald, speaking to the Windhoek Observer, warned that attempting such a major reform without extra financial support could result in universities capping student numbers or lowering admission standards to cut costs. He predicted that the free tuition may end up limited to students from low-income families, replicating South Africa’s experience.

In 2017, South Africa officially scrapped fees for some university students following mass #FeesMustFall protests. But the implementation left many behind—especially the so-called “missing middle,” students whose families earned just enough to be excluded from aid but not enough to afford fees.

Namibia risks repeating that same mistake.

Still, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement taps into a deep desire for transformation in a country where higher education has long been a privilege rather than a right. Primary and secondary schooling is already free; tertiary education is the final frontier in making public education truly accessible.

The real test now is not whether the idea is popular—it is—but whether the government can turn it into policy that is both effective and fair. That means a clear roadmap, transparent funding mechanisms, and honest engagement with the universities that will be expected to deliver this new reality.

Free education is a powerful promise. But without a clear plan, it’s just another campaign slogan.