The Namibian government is working to address a crisis affecting 2025 students admitted to the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences programme at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp acknowledged that an administrative oversight led to the admission of 150 students in 2025, the largest intake since the programme began in 2008. This has put considerable pressure on available practical training capacity, particularly work-integrated learning placements required for professional registration.
According to Steenkamp, the 150 students have been assessed based on their academic status, admission requirements, and available professional training capacity. 50 students have been selected for placement, with the required documentation submitted to the relevant professional council, and they have received registration certificates. However, 55 students cannot currently proceed to practical placement due to capacity constraints. The government is exploring options to support these students, including possible transfers to universities in the Southern African Development Community region that offer comparable qualifications.
NUST is working with the Ministry of Education to address the situation, and the university is exploring opportunities with other institutions in the region. Steenkamp stated that the institutions considered for possible transfers must be accredited, and the financial implications will also have to be assessed. The government is still considering how best to support the 55 students who cannot proceed to practical placement, including assessing the institutions available, accreditation, and costs.
A further 20 students were found not to have met the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences programme. They will be considered for other NUST programmes for the January 2027 intake, provided they meet the requirements and are subject to their academic interests. Steenkamp questioned why students who did not meet the requirements were admitted in the first place, highlighting the need for stricter admission processes.
Another 48 students have outstanding modules from their first or second year and will have to complete and pass those modules before progressing. Steenkamp emphasized that these students will not receive shortcuts to progression, and the higher education system cannot compromise its requirements. The crisis has resulted in NUST not admitting a new cohort into the programme for the 2026 academic year, and applications for the programme will remain closed for 2027.
The government's immediate concern is the affected students, who should receive clear information about their individual academic status and available options. The Ministry will continue engaging NUST, relevant professional regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders, while monitoring the implementation of measures to address the situation. Steenkamp emphasized that the government's objective is not merely to resolve the current crisis but to place the programme on a sustainable footing.
Steenkamp noted that the situation has been difficult for affected students and their parents, and she has personally spoken to frustrated parents. She maintained that although the corrective measures may be difficult, the government cannot resolve one problem by creating another. The episode should ultimately serve as a lesson for higher education institutions to ensure that expansion in student access is matched by the capacity and professional standards required to produce qualified graduates.
Key points
- 150 students were admitted to NUST's Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences programme in 2025, causing a crisis due to limited professional training capacity.
- 55 students cannot currently proceed to practical placement due to capacity constraints, and the government is exploring options to support them.
- The government aims to place the programme on a sustainable footing by aligning student numbers with academic capacity, laboratory facilities, practical placements, professional supervision, and regulatory requirements.
