The University of Namibia (UNAM) has announced an increase in tuition fees as one of the measures put in place to improve its fiscal status in light of the current national economic downturn. In a media statement issued Thursday, UNAM Director of Communications and Marketing, Edwin Tjiramba announced that the university council has approved an increase of 6% in tuition fees for 2019. He said registration fees will now be N$1 575, while the minimum deposit on tuition fees payable per faculty will be communicated to students in due course. An increase in hostel fees has also been effected, with various amounts payable, ranging from N$9 000 to just above N$16 000 for Namibian students per semester, depending on the various campuses of the university. On salary increments for its staff, the university said following the agreement reached with the unions on 12 November 2018, UNAM will implement a once-off payment of 5% of basic salary over seven months to staff inside the bargaining unit, to be implemented on 15 December 2018. The council also directed that staff in and outside the bargaining unit receive the same increments. “However, due to the current economic situation, the council directed that for 2018, a once-off amount equivalent to only 3% of basic salary over six months be granted to staff outside the bargaining unit,” Tjiramba said in the statement.