Stop selling education – Kandorozu

National Unity Democratic Organisation parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu has said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure citizens are educated.

In his contribution to the 2025/26 budget of N$24.8 billion allocated to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture in the National Assembly on Friday, Kandorozu asked why the government is “selling education” to its citizens.

“The government must ensure that all its inhabitants are well-educated and ready to contribute to the social welfare and economic development of the country. This government pressures parents to pay for a school, hostel [and] stationery, while it must be its responsibility to ensure that free access to education is implemented and encouraged among all citizens,” he said.

Kandorozu proposed free primary, secondary and tertiary education to enable all citizens to complete their studies without hindrance.

“Those at tertiary institutions must receive a monthly fee of N$ 1 500 for the period of their studies. No registration and tuition fees must be paid in Namibia,” he said.

The parliamentarian added that there is no emphasis given on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and proposed the establishment of vocational training centres in each region up to the constituency level.

“The TVET programmes must be introduced from primary up to secondary schools as an exit point to the vocational centres,” said Kandorozu, who obtained a degree in education at the then Windhoek College of Education.

Kandorozu further said that the government has “entered the business of exporting money”, as it is paying high interest rates on foreign loans by buying imported goods.

“This current regime cannot do any single thing within their own country, even a toothpick is imported. This budget does not talk on how to assist the youth to be self-reliant and own business,” he said.

The NUDO parliamentarian also called for strict rules to “stop people from Bangladesh from owning mobile phone shops made of containers that are scattered all over Namibia”.

This type of business, Kandorozu said, must be owned by Namibian youth, and he proposed for the government to one day do away with the China Town and call it Namibians’ Town.

“Look at the Ramatex buildings, this government has no idea what to do with those buildings rather than turning them into boxing rings, music arenas and breeding stations for cats, dogs and birds,” he said.