Over N$4 billion has been allocated to support the phased implementation of free higher education and vocational training starting next year.

The allocation represents 20% of the total education budget of over N$24 billion.

The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, said the allocation of funds is in line with the government's commitment to equitable access to quality education and skills development.

Of the N$4 billion towards free higher education, over N$1 billion will go to UNAM, N$28 million is for the National Council of Higher Education, over N$500 million is for NUST, and N$2.6 billion is for NSFAF.

Over N$60 million will be allocated to the Namibia Qualifications Authority, while the remaining N$11 million will be channelled towards the operational expenses of the Directorate of Higher Education for policy oversight.

"The integration of ICT in education is essential for the modernisation of teaching and learning, addressing the structural inequalities and also in preparing our learners for the future. We have set aside N$565,000 which goes specifically to NTA, while the overall budget is N$557. For science and technology, we have N$79.5 million, and for lifelong learning, N$584 million."

One of the top priorities of the Education Ministry for the next five years is the provision of adequate and appropriate infrastructure, which will receive an allocation of over N$1 billion.

Steenkamp said to improve access at the pre-primary level, 166 pre-primary classrooms will be constructed at a cost of N$98 million.

"A further N$268 million will be spent to construct an additional 217 classrooms, 27 science laboratories, 24 computer laboratories, 28 administration blocks and 39 ablution blocks at various schools nationwide. An amount of N$547 million is set aside to fund the construction of ongoing projects in various regions."

Both UNAM and NUST have been allocated over N$50 million for the construction and upgrading of their campuses.