IMELDA AMBONDO
Before a child even steps into a classroom, the cost of stationery alone tells a troubling story about Namibia’s free education system.
At Pep stores, a single A4 72-page exercise book costs N$4.99, while a 192-page hardcover book sells for N$18.99. A basic pen costs N$26.99, a three-pack of pencils N$14.99, an eraser N$6.99, and a sharpener N$12.99. These are expenses parents must multiply across several subjects and children before the school year even begins.
These costs come on top of uniforms, which remain one of the biggest financial burdens for parents despite education being declared “free.”
At Pep stores, dressing a boy for school includes trousers at N$99.99, a shirt at N$69.99, a jersey at N$159.99, socks at N$16.99, and school shoes at N$139.99. At Boundary Wholesale, the same items cost significantly more, with trousers priced at N$225, shirts at N$159, jerseys at N$275, socks at N$45, and school shoes reaching N$429.
Uniforms for girls are equally costly. At Boundary Wholesale, a school dress costs N$289, a shirt N$149, a skirt N$89.99, socks N$45, a jersey N$275, and school shoes N$389. At Pep stores, parents still pay N$69.99 for a shirt, N$17.99 for socks, N$159.99 for a jersey, N$89.99 for a skirt, and N$139.99 for school shoes.
These mounting expenses come more than a decade after a Cabinet decision in December 2012 abolished school fees for primary education, followed by the extension of free secondary education in 2016, moves celebrated at the time as relief for parents. Yet, the reality remains stark: many expenses have only shifted, not disappeared.
Last year, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced an extension of the free education programme to include universities and other public higher-education institutions, beginning with the 2026 academic year. The policy promises to scrap tuition and registration fees at state universities and technical colleges, a historic reform aimed at expanding access and empowering youth.
However, the rollout has been met with skepticism from students, parents and organisations like the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso). Critics argue that key details about how the programme will be funded and implemented remain unclear, leaving students and institutions uncertain about eligibility, non-tuition support and long-term sustainability.
The burden of these costs is compounded by Namibia’s harsh labour market realities. According to the labour force data released last year, only about 546 800 Namibians are employed, while the country’s official unemployment rate stands at 36.9%, rising to more than 50% when discouraged jobseekers are included. Even for those with jobs, income levels remain low. More than 55% of employed Namibians earn less than N$5 000 per month, with only a small fraction earning above N$40 000.
Amid these debates, the Secretary General of the Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN), Mahongora Kavihuha, says the requirement for parents to buy stationery fundamentally contradicts the idea of publicly funded education.
“From our side, the whole notion of stationery needs to be abolished. We cannot talk about publicly funded education and then, at the end of the day, contradict ourselves by saying parents must buy stationery,” Kavihuha said.
He criticised inefficiencies in the current system, noting that many books are barely used before parents are required to purchase new ones. “Some of these books are only used about 20% yet parents are forced to buy new books for the next grade. What a waste of resources,” he said.
According to Kavihuha, the curriculum is structured as a continuous process, leaving no justification for repeated purchases. “The curriculum is developed in a way that is continuous. We need a specific formula that works and benefits everyone. The current one is there to exploit parents,” he said.
He insisted that providing stationery is a non-negotiable responsibility of the state. “That is a government obligation. It must be understood clearly that this is not ‘free’ education. It is publicly funded education, funded by the resources of every Namibian,” Kavihuha said.
While uniforms are meant to promote equality, Kavihuha warned that stationery costs are creating discrimination among learners. “Imagine a child who cannot afford stationery sitting next to one who has everything. That child is humiliated every day. This affects learners psychologically, and we need to deal with it head-on,” he said.
Kavihuha pointed to delays in government support, saying schools only receive funds around June or July instead of December, forcing them to demand upfront payments from parents.
PASSING THE BUCK ONTO PARENTS
For Windhoek based mother Loide Konias (27), who is currently unemployed, the costs have already reached about N$3 000 for uniforms and stationery. “The cost of kids going back to school is very, very high. I am struggling a lot to come up with money to buy stationery, especially because I am unemployed,” she said.
She added that uniforms should be included in the government’s budget for free education. “They say education is free, but we are still paying things to the school. I had to pay N$400 for my daughter who is starting Grade 1, and on top of that I still need to buy cleaning supplies,” Konias said.
Another parent, Selma Shihepo (36), who supports four learners, her two daughters and two nephews, said back-to-school costs are overwhelming even for working parents.
“Being employed doesn’t mean life is easy. Uniforms are becoming more expensive nowadays, and providing for four is already expensive on its own,” she said. “Free education doesn’t feel free, because our children’s education still comes with a cost.”
Questions sent to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture were not answered.
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