NSFAF re-integration reaches implementation phase
As plans by the government draw closer to dissolving the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), the entity has developed an implementation plan that has been forwarded to the line ministry for approval.
The authorities have set 31 December 2023 as the deadline to reintegrate the student funding body into the higher education ministry, where it will function as a department.
In an interview with New Era this week, NSFAF spokesperson Olavi Hamwele confirmed the fund has developed a conceptual framework or implementation plan.
He revealed the plan has since been submitted to the higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi for her consideration.
“It is rather premature at this juncture to provide detailed information on the implementation plan, pending its approval,” Hamwele said.
Higher education executive director Alfred van Kent confirmed
the ministry leadership held a briefing on the matter with NSFAF management recently.
He, however, could not disclose the agenda and outcome of such a briefing, referring this publication back to NSFAF.
This progress comes despite a study that was done in 2018 recommending against reintegration, indicating the current NSFAF has proper systems and records, and it is more efficient than when it was a department in government.
During her ministry’s annual address early this year, KandjiiMurangi directed the committee dealing with the NSFAF reform to speed up the process and report to her on progress made thus far.
For years, there have been plans to revert the NSFAF to a directorate in the higher education ministry, but it failed to materialise due to resistance from critics.
“We should avoid being fixated on our past year’s achievements and challenges. We are in 2022 now. This is the year of reimaging. The technology, innovation (and properly coordinated research) leg of the ministry has to take centre stage and be visible. We aim to accelerate the NSFAF’s reform work. In fact, to those in the committee that is spearheading this, please submit your draft timeline for this year for us to discuss and agree to it,” she stated then.
A committee, headed by the higher education ministry, has been established for the restructuring of the fund, with the ministry of finance part of it.
NSFAF came into being and became operational in 2000, replacing the Public Service Bursary Scheme, whose purpose was to train people to work solely in the civil service.
It was then established in 2013 as a parastatal to provide financial assistance by way of study loans to all needy full-time Namibian students enrolled at recognised higher learning institutions.
This means that from 2000 to 2012, NSFAF was operating as a directorate under the ministry of education.