
By: Justicia Shipena
Student leaders from institutions of higher learning say they are against the decision of dissolving the Namibia Student’s Financial Fund (NSFAF).
This comes after NSFAF on Wednesday confirmed that the process to dissolve the institution has begun.
During a press briefing in Windhoek on Thursday, the group of leaders called out NSFAF for not involving them in the decision-making process.
According to Simon Kandjimbi, Welwitschia Health Centre SRC president said NSFAF was part of the education ministry in the past but has failed.
“Them returning NSFAF back to the ministry, what indicators to they have that they resolved what happened in the past?” says Kandjimbi.
Kandjimbi questions how the ministry will cope with the return of NSFAF.
“We are not in support, we need to see the reason to why the government or the ministry sees the need to revert back,” he says.
The student leaders say if the process of dissolving NASFAF is successful, it should be managed under a directorate in the finance ministry.
“Ministry of Higher education is not a funding institution,” he says.
Secretary of community development at the University of Namibia (Unam), Jerry Motinga says they want to exhausted every factor that has caused the failure of the institution.
“So much money was used to build the new headquarters. What is going to happen with the newly built building in Eros?” He questions.
Motinga added that they will not sit idle and just watch from afar.
“We are coming for you. We are not just going to let it go like that. We are not happy.”
Touching on the topic of employment the International University of Management (IUM) SRC President, Hendrik Dingi grilled on what will happen to the current employees of NSFAF.
“We are here fighting for students to be funded but yet their parents are losing jobs. This is also one of the impacts that can be caused by dissolving NSFAF,” says Dingi.
Dingi added urged the government to implement proper planning on decision taken.
“This has an impact to us students. The lives of students are being put in jeopardy because of issues not resolved,” he says.