Windhoek: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Monday announced the establishment of a joint technical committee to support and coordinate the implementation of the Youth Fund, agricultural cooperatives, and internship/apprenticeship programs. This initiative aims to enhance skill development and employment opportunities for graduates.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the committee's formation while launching the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and presenting the report of her first 100 days in office. The committee includes the Ministries of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, and Finance. Its primary focus is to finalize a consolidated National Work-Integrated Learning Framework for cabinet approval. This framework aims to place at least 5,000 graduates annually into internships, with an anticipated 80 percent of them being retained in formal employment post-internship.
By June 2025, at least 734 internships and traineeships are expected to be facilitated across key public institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah praised the Offices, Ministries, and Agencies (OMAs), along with private sector organizations, for responding to the government's call to offer such opportunities to students and graduates.
Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the Namibian Government's commitment to providing universal access to free, equitable, and quality education and vocational training across the country. Plans are underway to eliminate tuition fees for students enrolled in public Higher Education Institutions and Vocational Training Centres starting from the 2026 Academic Year. To ensure a smooth transition, a national task force has been formed, and consultations on admission, financing, institutional designation, and record-keeping regulations are ongoing, with completion expected by the end of July.
In light of these policy reforms, the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) funding model is currently under review as it integrates into the line Ministry. Additionally, terms of reference are being developed for a diagnostic assessment of the current state of free basic education and an impact assessment of Namibia's new school curriculum.