Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi questioned the government's capacity to deliver free tertiary education under its present structure when he addressed the National Assembly on Thursday. His remarks came as officials redirected $814 million from the annual budget to education, with $663 million earmarked for tuition-free university access beginning in the first quarter of 2026.
Swartbooi pointed to Germany's nine-year implementation period, which requires 33 billion euros annually, as evidence that rapid policy shifts create institutional strain. He said that the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia received no advance warning about the program, despite concerns over staff retention and academic rankings.
The opposition leader challenged the sustainability of first-quarter funding while noting that neither institution has achieved financial independence despite earlier mandates. He argued that workforce training holds limited value when the economy fails to generate employment opportunities for graduates.
Swartbooi pointed to Germany's nine-year implementation period, which requires 33 billion euros annually, as evidence that rapid policy shifts create institutional strain. He said that the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia received no advance warning about the program, despite concerns over staff retention and academic rankings.
The opposition leader challenged the sustainability of first-quarter funding while noting that neither institution has achieved financial independence despite earlier mandates. He argued that workforce training holds limited value when the economy fails to generate employment opportunities for graduates.
