The Hai||om community has raised concerns about persistent challenges in the education sector, particularly the lack of adequate funding for students to further their studies.
The community identified access to and funding for higher education for Hai||om learners as one of the most urgent issues facing the youth.
The concerns were voiced during Vice President Lucia Witbooi's recent visit to the Erongo Region.
Community activist Petrus !Hoaeb said the current funding model is failing many aspiring students, particularly those aiming to pursue careers in essential fields such as teaching and nursing.
He further stated that only four institutions receive funding, namely UNAM, IUM, NAMCOL and a few vocational training centres.
Funding for certificates and diploma programmes, he said, has been discontinued, which places a huge burden on students from the Hai||om community.
"One of our biggest struggles is the lack of adequate funding programmes for our students. Currently, only four institutions, UNAM, IUM, NAMCOL and some VTCs, receive funding, but unfortunately, funding for certificate and diploma programmes has been discontinued. This places a significant burden on our students who wish to pursue careers in fields like teaching and nursing," said !Hoaeb.
In response, Vice President Lucia Witbooi acknowledged the community's concerns, noting that the discontinuation of diploma and certificate programmes has left a significant gap in the education sector.
She also noted that the community wants these programmes to be reinstated because currently, only the University of Namibia offers education qualifications starting at the bachelor's level.
Witbooi stressed that reviving such programmes would require a high-level intervention and a strategic decision in collaboration with the line ministry.
"What I basically hear from you, if I can quickly catch up, is that you want to restart the diploma programme again because currently only UNAM caters to education starting with a bachelor's degree, so there are no other certificates/diplomas like those years when we had it with Windhoek College of Education. To bring back a diploma or certificate course that needs a high-level intervention and high-level decision with the line ministry."