GRADUATED BUT BLOCKED: NAMIBIA’S NEW NURSING EVALUATION FAILING FUTURE HEALTHCARE HEROES

In what should be a moment of triumph and relief for newly completed nursing students in Namibia, many are instead facing distress, uncertainty, and financial strain. The Nursing Council of Namibia (NCN) has introduced a new policy that requires student nurses, who have already completed their academic and clinical training, to undergo additional oral and written evaluations before they can graduate. While the intention may be to uphold professional standards, the reality on the ground tells a much more troubling story.

A Policy of Double Standards

One of the most glaring issues with this new policy is its selective application. Only newly completed student nurses are being subjected to this extra evaluation, while previously qualified nurses continue to practice without undergoing the same process. This creates an unfair and discriminatory standard. If the aim is truly to protect public health, shouldn’t all practicing nurses be held to the same level of scrutiny?

The inconsistency is deeply problematic. It undermines the trust in the nursing qualification process and sends a message that some nurses are more credible than others not based on competence, but simply on timing.

The Cost of Becoming a Nurse in Namibia

The financial demands of this policy are staggering. Here’s a breakdown:

Application Fee: N$580

First Exam Attempt: N$2,170

Second Attempt: N$2,890

If a student fails their first attempt, they would need to pay N$6,220 in total. For many young graduates who are still unemployed and come from low-income backgrounds, these costs are simply unaffordable. After years of investing in tuition, transport, and practical work with little or no pay, this final hurdle feels more like a financial trap than a measure of competence.

It’s a harsh irony: students who’ve sacrificed so much to serve their communities are now being asked to pay more just to finish the journey they’ve already walked. Is the Nursing Council here to protect the public, or to profit off vulnerable students?

Demoralizing the Next Generation

This policy isn’t just a financial issue; it’s also a deeply emotional one. Nursing students spend years in rigorous study, long clinical hours, and emotional highs and lows. After finally completing their training, they deserve recognition and support, not more exams and more fees.

Instead of stepping into the workforce with pride, many are feeling discouraged, betrayed, and abandoned. The message being sent is this: no matter how hard you work, your future can still be held hostage by bureaucracy.

Creating Barriers Instead of Opportunities

Namibia is currently facing a healthcare worker shortage. Instead of streamlining the transition of graduates into the system, this policy puts up more roadblocks. Delayed graduation means delayed registration, which means fewer nurses entering the workforce. It’s a policy that harms not only students but also the communities that desperately need their care.

What Needs to Happen Now

This policy demands immediate attention and change. Here’s what we’re calling for:

Immediate suspension of the evaluation policy until it is fairly reviewed.

Elimination or reduction of fees for unemployed and low-income students.

Transparency about how evaluations are designed, administered, and scored.

Recognition of academic and clinical achievements as sufficient indicators of readiness to practice.

Bottom Line

This isn’t just a policy disagreement, it’s a crisis in the making. The future of nursing in Namibia depends on how we treat today’s graduates. We cannot afford to discourage, demoralize, or financially exploit them. The Nursing Council of Namibia must listen, reflect, and act.

As nursing students, the've  been taught to advocate for their  patients. Now, they must advocate for themselves. Their future and the health of our nation depends on it.

Have you or someone you know been affected by this policy? Share your story in the comments or tag us on social media using #TheHonestImpactWithGideonKapuka #NursesDeserveBetter. Let’s raise our voices together.