The first female President of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that starting 2026, Namibia will offer free higher education at all public universities and technical colleges.

The policy is in line with Namibia’s existing provision of free primary and secondary education. It will be introduced gradually (phased rollout) rather than all at once.

By covering tuition and registration fees at state‑owned institutions, the government seeks to ensure that higher education is treated as a public good rather than a privilege, aligning with the nation’s broader goals of human capital development and sustainable economic growth.

The students or their families will still have to cover accommodation, living expenses and other related costs, at least initially.

In the 2025/26 mid-year budget review, the government allocated N$663 million (KSh 4.97 Billion) to cover registration and tuition for the first quarter of 2026.

The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture proposed an allocation of N$814 million (KSh 6.105 Billion).

This initiative is particularly significant given Namibia’s youthful population, with approximately 2.1 million of its 3 million citizens under the age of 35.

Namibia took a bold step toward embracing female leadership, exemplified by the appointment of nine women to its 14‑member Cabinet.

This marks one of the highest levels of female representation in the country’s executive history, reflecting a commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance.