By:Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Higher learning institutions have been directed to align their courses with the country’s economic development agenda.
This is the message of the Minister Of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Itah Kandjii-Murangi.
She called for the labour force to be equipped with skills which are inline with new economic sectors such as oil, hydrogen and others as they emerge.
“Our universities and other institutions of higher learning in Namibia should accommodate these new areas of economic development by developing course offerings at certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.”
She said programmes and courses at universities should speak to developing both professional and technical knowledge and skills required in oil, gas and green hydrogen fields.
Apart from the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, the country has 14 registered private higher education institutions and seven public vocational centres.
Minister Kandji-Murangi expressed hope, the awarded loans include studies on oil and gas discoveries and other latest developments like green hydrogen.
“I hope the identification and selection of the 2023 awarded students were not informed only by the long-standing priority fields of study, but also taken cognizant of the new knowledge and skill sets required to exploit the new natural resources discoveries in our country,” she added.
Kandji-Murangi explained that student loans are a government commitment towards the human capital development of this country through institutions of higher learning.
She added that investment in a country’s human resources development is critical to the country’s development, reiterating that students and the youth are the future of this country.
She said the government’s commitment demonstrates its commitment by providing the opportunity to “students to deepen their knowledge and skills in different academic and technical fields and to be fit for purpose upon graduation”.
For the 2023 academic year, higher learning institutions (including vocational) students have submitted 30,124 applications requesting for funding from the Namibia Student Financial Assistant Fund (NSFAF).
However, the Fund was only able to fund 22,178 beneficiaries, as it asked for more funds from the government.
NSFAF is the government’s primary strategy, to facilitate national human resources development, through providing access to education and training.
The Fund is responsible for balancing the availed annual budget for human capital development for the various identified national priority fields of study. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na