Also known as: NCHE
Regulator of higher education institutions in Namibia, overseeing registration, accreditation, and employment outcomes of graduates across the sector.
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Informanté
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) launched the 2024 National Graduate Survey report
“Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp delivered the keynote address at the official launch of the report by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) at Protea Hotel Windhoek Fürstenhof.”
2024 National Graduate Survey finds qualification mattersNew Era
National Council for Higher Education indicated PhDs account for only about 0.2% of tertiary qualifications awarded annually
“information from the National Council for Higher Education indicates that PhDs account for only about 0.2% of tertiary qualifications awarded annually.”
No PhDs for ‘mahala’ – AmupandaInformanté
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) operates under significant structural limitations as a directorate within a ministry
“The Committee also noted that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), as the primary quality assurance body, operates under significant structural limitations.”
Education committee raises concerns over skills gaps and higher education challengesWindhoek Observer
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) presented higher education enrollment figures of 97,333 students in 2025
“according to figures presented by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to the National Council Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development.”
Higher education enrollment reaches 97 333Informanté
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) introduced new regulations to address gaps in nursing training entry requirements and control of intakes
“Dr Demas noted that new regulations have since been introduced to address the issue by revising entry requirements, regulating training quotas and controlling the number of intakes for health professions, particularly nursing.”
Regulation sought for nursing collegesNew Era
National Council for Higher Education registers institutions offering academic higher education programmes
“It explained that all institutions offering higher education programmes must be registered with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) or the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), depending on whether they offer academic or vocational training.”
‘Don’t enrol at unregistered institutions’Windhoek Observer
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) reported that employers complain of a major skills mismatch between labour market demands and job seekers' skills
“"Employers complain of a major skills mismatch while many adults are left with little or no access to affordable training and re-skilling opportunities," she said.”
Leaders warn Namibia is producing graduates industry can’t useInformanté
National Council for Higher Education marked two decades of service and inaugurated new headquarters
“THE National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) marked two decades of service and officially inaugurated its new headquarters in Windhoek, with Vice President Lucia Witbooi calling for a higher education system that is globally competitive, locally relevant and socially just.”
NCHE turns 20, inaugurates new headquartersThe Namibian
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) oversees, coordinates and regulates higher education
“The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) features centrally in the act. It oversees, coordinates and regulates higher education so that it is of quality and accessible to all.”
It’s Time to Disrupt Namibia’s Public Higher EducationA National Council for Higher Education survey of graduates from 2019–2021 cohorts at five Namibian institutions found that 65% secured employment within two to four years, with 61% employed and 4% self-employed, while qualification level significantly affects employment prospects and earnings.
28 September 2026 · Informanté →
A National Council for Higher Education survey of graduates from 2019–2021 cohorts at five Namibian institutions found that 65% secured employment within two to four years, with 61% employed and 4% self-employed, while qualification level significantly affects employment prospects and earnings.
28 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's 36.9% unemployment rate, the highest in the SADC region, reflects a mismatch between qualifications produced and actual job readiness. About a third of TVET graduates are not in employment, education, or training, while employers report persistent shortages in digital and technical skills even as the system oversupplies graduates in business management and public administration.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Auleria Wakudumo Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda has submitted a parliamentary question calling for tighter regulation of honorary doctorates in Namibia, warning that the growing practice could undermine genuine PhD qualifications and suggesting other African countries have introduced regulatory measures to prevent political weaponisation and fraudulent use.
10 September 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has warned of a critical misalignment between skills produced by higher education institutions and labour market demands, citing high graduate unemployment in teaching and nursing alongside oversupply in other fields. The Committee also flagged funding constraints, infrastructure gaps, and rapid technological change as barriers to curriculum relevance.
29 August 2026 · Informanté →
Nearly a quarter of Namibians aged 18–35 hold post-secondary qualifications yet only 18% are in full-time employment, according to Afrobarometer data cited in the article. The author argues the real problem is a "readiness gap"—the distance between what curricula certify and what workplaces actually demand—rather than a lack of training or qualifications.
7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has begun implementing its National Work-Integrated Learning Policy to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace skills, aiming to improve graduate employability. The implementation phase was launched during a two-day national working session in Okahandja, bringing together education institutions, employers, and state agencies to establish coordination mechanisms and monitoring systems for 2026/27.
29 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Monika Pendukeni introduced Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Susan Ndjaleka as the keynote speaker at Welwitchia University's 9th Official Graduation Ceremony, held on 16–17 July 2026 at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Monika Pendukeni introduced Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Susan Ndjaleka as the keynote speaker at Welwitchia University's 9th Official Graduation Ceremony held at Mercure Hotel, Windhoek on 16–17 July 2026.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Welwitschia University Chancellor Scholastika Iipinge has called on NSFAF to fully cover tuition fees for students at private higher education institutions, stating that partial funding continues to leave families carrying a financial burden despite government promises of equal treatment.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Chancellor of Welwitschia University has called on NSFAF to fully cover tuition fees for students at private higher education institutions, noting that partial sponsorships continue to leave families bearing financial burdens despite government promises of equal treatment.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Agriculture graduates record the highest unemployment rate among all fields of study at 47%, according to the Deputy Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education. Education and science graduates are also increasingly struggling to secure employment.
12 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's higher education sector enrolled 97,333 students in 2025, with public institutions accounting for 50,941 and private institutions for 46,392. The University of Namibia, Namibia University of Science and Technology, and International University of Management were the largest institutions by enrollment.
8 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A National Council member has raised concerns over the rapid growth of nursing training institutions and employment challenges for graduates. The National Council for Higher Education says new regulations have been introduced to revise entry requirements, regulate training quotas, and control intakes for health professions, particularly nursing.
7 July 2026 · Informanté →
The National Council's standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development has begun a stakeholder engagement programme to better understand the challenges and priorities of institutions under its oversight. Committee chairperson Bethuel Tjaveondja said the sessions would help the committee assess whether institutions are fulfilling their roles in education, research, innovation and skills development.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Council's standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development has launched a stakeholder engagement programme to better understand the challenges and priorities of institutions under its oversight and measure whether they are fulfilling their roles in national development priorities.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Bethuel Tjaveondja, addressing the Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development, called for stronger parliamentary oversight through direct engagement with institutions under the committee's portfolio, arguing that effective oversight requires more than examining reports and policy documents.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliament's Standing Committee on Education has launched an inquiry into Namibia's health training sector over concerns about graduate unemployment, accreditation delays, and training quality as the number of health training institutions has grown. The committee convened a two-day consultation with institutions, regulators, and students, with representatives from 12 health training institutions citing prolonged accreditation processes and overlapping regulatory requirements as obstacles.
6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Education has urged Namibians to avoid enrolling in unregistered or unaccredited higher education institutions, warning that their qualifications are not recognised for employment or further studies. The ministry stressed that all institutions must be registered with the National Council for Higher Education or the Namibia Training Authority, and all programmes must be accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority.
2 July 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Education has urged the public to report higher education institutions operating without registration or accreditation, warning that qualifications from unregistered and unaccredited institutions may not be accepted by employers or other learning institutions. The ministry advises prospective students to verify a college or university's registration with the NCHE or NTA before enrolling and to check that their course is accredited with the NQA before making payments.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Industry and education leaders have raised concerns that Namibia's education system is producing graduates ill-prepared for the demands of the modern workplace, with employers complaining of a major skills mismatch between the skills required by the labour market and those possessed by many job seekers. The National Council for Higher Education deputy executive director called for renewed efforts to prioritise skilling, reskilling and upskilling, and urged stakeholders to rethink education systems to produce resilient, innovative and adaptable citizens.
22 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The National Council for Higher Education celebrated its 20th anniversary and inaugurated its new headquarters, with Vice President Lucia Witbooi calling for a higher education system that is globally competitive, locally relevant and socially just. The building was named in honour of the late Zedekia Josef Ngavirue, the Council's founding chairperson.
16 February 2026 · Informanté →