Student Fund covers learners with disabilities

Students with disabilities and special needs will have the opportunity to further their education following the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund’s (NSFAF) commitment to fund them to go on vocational study programmes in Botswana.

This was revealed by Mrs Hilya Nghiwete, CEO of the NSFAF during an disability initiative event held in the capital on Wednesday.
Nghiwete said the group of students with special needs include those with hearing impairments, reduced vision or physical challenges. They will have an opportunity to study different programmes in the faculty of Design and Innovation; Creative Multimedia, Communication and Media, Architecture and Interior; Information Technology and Business Management at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Botswana during October this year.
“Namibian children have enormous challenges in life and access to quality education is just one of them. That is why my heart and mind are filled with pride on this special occasion especially when I see parents and students who previously were not able to access financial assistance from us due to non-availability of institutions and programmes tailor-made to their unique needs,” she said.
“Everyone needs and deserves a chance to better themselves, through educational training improve themselves and carve out a niche in this world. This means that through education and vocational training [they] will be able to contribute to the development of our country,” said Nghiwete.
Meanwhile, Nghiwete added that the programme is designed according to the requirements of learners with special needs and will be funded by NSFAF. Nghiwete stressed that it is important that these [prospective] students are not left behind. She described the financing of this educational programme to Botswana for learners with special needs, as a great example of the broadening of their mandate.
“The vision of NSFAF is very simple, but not easy to achieve. To build a sustainable, equitable and reputable developmental funding institution contributing to Namibia’s human capital development, is a huge responsibility. It means that at all levels and all sections of society, human capital development through education is the goal,” she said.