More Namibians want to study abroad

More Namibians want to study abroad The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration says applications from Namibians to study abroad have increased by at least 20% from last year.

The ministry urges students to apply for visas at the embassies of the countries where they want to study and not at Home Affairs.

Ministry spokesperson Salome Kambala says the majority of students are applying to South Africa, Britain, China, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, the United States of America and, for the first time, France and Portugal.

Kambala says the ministry first noticed the increase when the students applied for passports and indicated that they wanted to further their studies abroad.

According to her some of the main reasons for the increase are that Namibian students want exposure to other countries and that companies want to invest in Namibians who did exceptionally well in grade 12.

She says the students abroad have bursaries from private companies, government funding or their parents pay for their studies.

She emphasises that people studying abroad should make sure that they won't find themselves without money.

There were incidents this year where students studying in the Ukraine and in China with government funding were caught short when payments were delayed.

She says this gives Namibia a bad name and students and parents should take responsibility and ensure that this does not happen.

She urges students relying on bursaries and loans to make sure of what the contract stipulates and what they should do in case there is a delay in payment.

Kambala further says that students should be aware that they must apply for visas to other countries at the appropriate embassies.

According to her the ministry has been inundated with requests from students for visas.

“Home Affairs issues visas to people who want to travel to Namibia,” she points out.

Students should note that the embassies of some countries are not located in Namibia, but in South Africa.

Kambala also urges those who will be studying abroad for a number of years to remember to renew their passports in time.

“When you see that your passport will expire soon, go to a Namibian embassy and apply for renewal. We have picked up these problems in the past and if your passport expires you will not be able to return home.”

ELLANIE SMIT