Max Hamata
30 January 2003
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced stringent measures to curb what it says are abuses of the study permit system by foreign nationals.
Deputy Director of Immigration Nkrumah Mushelenga told first-year foreign students at the University of Namibia (Unam) yesterday that students found abusing their study permits will be deported to their countries of origin and have their permits terminated.
"Some of these students apply for study permits under the pretext of studying and when they come here they engage in other businesses," said Mushelenga.
"We have had cases of students attending classes three times a year and when they have applied for degree courses. When they are arrested at a nightclub or found at a roadblock they produce these study permits," he added.
"We have an outcry from Namibians that we are denying them places in universities and schools while allowing foreign students to take their places. Our explanation has always been that we admit foreign students on solidarity grounds because we are all Africans but this will put us in a difficult position when we have international students abusing their privileges," said Mushelenga.
He said the Ministry would not accept any study applications from individual applicants and all permits would now be received from the institutions of higher learning and principals of secondary schools where they had been accepted.
"The Ministry will however receive study permit applications coming from our diplomatic missions abroad," added Mushelenga.
To curb abuse of study permits, the Ministry will evaluate the progress and class attendance of the students before deciding on the renewal of their study permits.
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