Also known as: National Association of Namibian Students Organisations
Namibia National Students Organisation — student advocacy body that campaigns on education access, funding, and school infrastructure issues in Namibia.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
June 2026
The Namibian
Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso)walked out ofthe NSFAF meeting after rejecting disbursement timelines
Source
“Representatives of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) walked out of the meeting after rejecting the disbursement timelines tabled by the fund and mobilised students and members of the public to gather at Government Park on Friday for their planned protest.”
Nansomobilisedstudents and public to gather at Government Park on Friday for protest
Source
“Representatives of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) walked out of the meeting after rejecting the disbursement timelines tabled by the fund and mobilised students and members of the public to gather at Government Park on Friday for their planned protest.”
Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso)hosteda corporate 7-a-side football tournament in Windhoek to raise funds for #FixMySchool
Source
“The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) hosted a corporate 7-a-side football tournament in Windhoek on Saturday, aimed at raising funds for its #FixMySchool initiative.”
Namibia National Students Organisationwas establishedin 1984
Source
“Some major youth events that took place prior independence included the 1971–1972 contract workers strike, the 1973 school boycotts against the Bantustan policies, the 1976 student strikes in mission schools, the formation of the Swapo Party Youth League in 1974, the establishment of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) in 1984, and the nationwide school boycott of 1988 involving 75 000 students.”
Nansovisited and assessedlearning conditions in several schools across the region
Source
“The campaign, conducted throughout February and early March, saw Nanso student leaders visit a number of schools across the region to observe classroom environments and engage with both learners and teachers.”
Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO)hada SWAPO-affiliated faction formerly led by Abraham Ndumbu
Source
“ABRAHAM Ndumbu, the controversial former leader of the SWAPO-affiliated faction of the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), is behind bars.”
Namibia National Students Organisationsaid2025 NSSCO and AS results exclude learners with disability
Source
“The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) said the 2025 results of Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) national examination results exclude learners living with disability.”
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) walked out of talks with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) over delayed disbursement of tuition and non-tuition funds, rejecting proposed timelines and calling for a protest at Government Park on Friday after the fund failed to meet previous commitments to release funds in April.
Why it matters
Student funding deadlock between Nanso and NSFAF threatens academic progress as disbursement delays persist despite previous failed commitments.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) walked out of talks with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) over delayed disbursement of tuition and non-tuition funds, rejecting proposed timelines and calling for a protest at Government Park on Friday after the fund failed to meet previous commitments to release funds in April.
The Ministry of Education has directed higher education institutions to allow NSFAF-funded students to write examinations and access results while funding payments are being finalised. The ministry is processing about 100,000 student funding records; delays stem from a high volume of applications, implementation of a new tertiary education funding model, and NSFAF integration.
Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse says his ministry will investigate allegations that CVs submitted by unemployed Namibians to M15 Mining Contractor, a Chinese company working for Osino Resources Corporation in Karibib, were dumped in the open. Amutse described the handling of job seekers' personal information as unacceptable and indicated the Ministry of Labour may also become involved due to both labour and ethical concerns.
The Damara community remembers Simson !Gobs, who died on 4 May 1985 after playing a significant role during Namibia's liberation struggle. Operating under the Damara Raad, !Gobs helped facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the Damara community and Swapo, including participation in the historic Damara Raad–Swapo Lusaka Summit.
The Public Service Commission retained 16 officials over the age of 60 due to their specialised skills, citing legal provisions for critical expertise gaps, but the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition over potential political patronage and youth unemployment.
Five years after its rollout, Namibia's Advanced Subsidiary curriculum will undergo review as the percentage of candidates graded in at least three subjects fell to 70.30% in 2025 from a 2021 peak of 76.00%. The Ministry of Education cited performance data, monitoring visits, and examination analysis as informing potential revisions.
The government has cancelled a restricted bidding process for school hostel food procurement and extended costly interim emergency contracts for six months to avoid disruptions while a new tender is finalised. The extension follows legal procedures linked to the procurement process, though stakeholders raise concerns about transparency and the impact on vulnerable hostel pupils.
Student unions have called on the government to establish an equitable funding model after the suspension of funding to the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) amid allegations of misuse and favouritism. While some unions welcome the halt to Nanso's exclusive funding, they oppose complete removal of financial support to student bodies and instead urge the Ministry of Education to distribute budgets fairly among all three student organisations in Namibia.
The Namibia National Students Organisation held a 7-a-side football tournament in Windhoek involving 12 corporate teams to raise funds for its #FixMySchool initiative, which aims to repair and restore school furniture like desks and chairs. The event raised awareness about infrastructure challenges in schools and emphasised collective stakeholder responsibility in improving education conditions.
Namibian youth were central to the independence struggle, but veterans and contemporary activists argue that economic emancipation remains incomplete. Today's youth movements have shifted from political freedom to addressing unemployment, social inequality, and demanding accountability for change.
The Namibia National Students Organisation completed its Access to Education and Fix My School Campaign in Kunene region, visiting multiple schools to assess learning conditions. The campaign found positive teaching efforts at some schools but also identified critical challenges including lack of basic teaching materials, temporary tent classrooms, and learners sleeping in classrooms due to absent hostel facilities, with findings to be submitted to the Ministry of Education.
Abraham Ndumbu, a controversial former leader of student and political movements including NANSO and NEFF, has been arrested and charged with rape following allegations that he repeatedly raped a 13-year-old girl between February 2025 and January this year.
Matheus David John Pandeni constituency councillor John Mwoonde says his leadership focuses on uniting communities, expanding economic participation, and addressing social challenges including unemployment, urban hunger, and substance abuse. Since taking office, he has implemented infrastructure upgrades, educational support, funded income-generating projects, and rolled out wellness and socio-economic programmes for residents.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) has criticised the education ministry for excluding disability-disaggregated data from the 2025 NSSCO and AS national examination results, saying for the second consecutive year learners with disabilities are rendered invisible in national reporting. The ministry responded that it reported all candidates collectively as an inclusive approach, while Nanso argues that without separate disability data, the system cannot assess whether learners with disabilities are accessing and succeeding in education.
Patience Masua, newly appointed interim executive chairperson of the National Youth Council, said young people must take ownership of the institution and vowed to restore confidence through functional, meaningful programmes that respond to youth aspirations. She plans to hold a General Assembly soon and revive strategic partnerships while ensuring compliance with the NYC Act.
The education ministry expanded access to subsidised tertiary education including Grade 11 students, with the NSFAF non-tuition threshold raised to N$300,000 household income. While some student organisations welcomed the move, critics questioned the criteria for qualifying students, sustainability concerns, and whether the policy constitutes genuine free education or was politically motivated.
The National Association of Namibian Students Organisations (Nanso) in Kunene region has warned teachers and school sport officials against consuming alcohol during tournaments, saying it compromises pupil safety and undermines professional responsibility. The organization also called for medical support at all school sporting events and encouraged schools to participate in an upcoming debate competition.
Namibia's education ministry has widened access to tertiary education funding by including Grade 11 (NSSCO Ordinary Level) students in the subsidised model and raising the non-tuition household income threshold to N$300,000. Minister Sanet Steenkamp emphasised that NSFAF requirements remain the basis for funding eligibility, and tertiary institutions must refund any illegally collected registration fees.