Katima students settle tuition fees with cattle
The Shiramed Medical Institute in Namibia has begun accepting cattle as a form of payment for tuition fees to assist students who lack cash. This innovative approach is supported by student unions as a practical way to increase access to higher education in rural areas.
Why it matters
This highlights alternative economic models for education financing in regions where traditional cash-based systems may be inaccessible to rural populations.
Students at Shiramed Medical Institute at Katima Mulilo have agreed with the institution to pay their tuition fees with cattle.
Shiramed principal tutor Chani Felix says the arrangement has helped students to pay their fees with cattle, instead of cash, which is not readily available.
“The school has also assisted students who cannot afford it for themselves but have got cattle. They have negotiated to exchange cattle for school tuition fees. This has been quite a model that has been working for us,” Felix said during a recent consultation with parliament’s standing committee on education, youth, civic relations and community development.
Felix said all students who qualify for funding from the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) are fully funded.
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