Nust students struggle with debt

Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) president Dorthea Nangolo says the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) is one of the institutions where students are burdened most by severe debt.

She was speaking to The Namibian yesterday about payment plans tertiary institutions have in place to accommodate students who cannot afford to settle their tuition fees before second semester registration ends.

“We must acknowledge that Nust is one of the institutions where students are burdened by a lot of debt and the institution has always been very, very reluctant to have a payment plan,” Nangolo said.

She expressed her satisfaction to the university for listening to the pleas of the students and creating a plan.

Nangolo applauded the University of Namibia (Unam) for already having a plan in place for these vulnerable students.

“Institutions like Unam, for instance, have a payment plan that’s already in existence. If you’re unable to register, you can simply write a debt acknowledgement, stating you acknowledge the debt and are willing to pay this amount over this period of time. Unam already has such a system, which is good,” she said.

Nangolo stresses the need for institutions like the International University of Management, Triumphant College and vocational centres to come up with similar plans to allow students to register while Nanso battles the issue of student debt at national level.

“Our students must not be in a position where they are unable to register or to graduate because of debt, and that’s something we are constantly dealing with. It needs a long-term solution, because at the beginning of every year, we are fighting to have our students register at these institutions,” she said.

According to Nangolo, the effect student debt has on students set to graduate is just as severe.

The Nust Student Representative Council issued a notice on 31 July stating that it has submitted a formal request to Nust management to explore ways to support students.

“We have engaged in extensive negotiations with the institution, and the executive committee of Nust will convene to make a final decision on the submission,” the notice reads.

This came after the university was strict in their request for students to settle all outstanding debts and pay the necessary registration fees to proceed with registration.

On 2 August, the university provided debt reprieve for the students. According to the university, students with outstanding debts must reduce their debt to N$10 000 or less to register without paying the deposit.

Students unable to reduce their debts to N$10 000 or less and without a payment plan from the previous semester must pay N$2 250 deposit and sign a payment plan for the current semester, and students with previous payment plans who cannot reduce their debt to N$10 000 or less must reduce the balance to 50% and sign a new payment plan.

Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said the university has always had a payment plan for students who could not afford to pay tuition and registration fees once off.

“Yes, it (payment plan) has been in place for a while now and during each registration period,” Namesho says.