Self-funded students at UNAM’s Rundu Campus seek waiver 

Some self-funded students at UNAM’s Rundu Campus say they don’t have money to pay for registration fees and are asking for the fees to be waived. 

UNAM says waiving fees won’t be possible, especially since self-funded students countrywide owe the university over N$356 million.

These are some of the self-funded students at UNAM’s Rundu Campus. 

Frans Kambinda owes the university N$65,000, while Maria Nshamba owes N$48,000. 

Pauline Muremi’s debt stands at more than N$55,000, while Rebecca Masozi’s is N$35,000 overdue. 

The self-funded students say they don’t have money to pay for registration fees, let alone settle their debt, and are now asking the university to register them for free. 

Earlier this month, UNAM reduced registration fees for senior non-funded Namibian students from about N$6,500 to nearly N$2,500. These students would then have to enter into a written payment plan for the remainder of other fees payable, including outstanding debt. Only then will they receive their proof of registration. 

The requirements for the payment plan are an ID copy, a bank confirmation letter, and the contact details of the responsible party. The majority of the self-funded students here say their parents do not have access to some of these documents. 

Responding to questions from nbc News, UNAM Spokesperson Simon Namesho, in a written statement, says self-funded students make up 40% of the student population annually. 

As of December 2023, they owe the university more than N$356 million.