Internships Extension & Raises of Allowances To Be Effective As Of April 2027

The Government has revised its public service internship programme to give young people more time to gain practical work experience and better financial support, extending placements to six months and increasing monthly allowances for student and graduate interns from April 2027.

Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) explained the changes during an information-sharing session at the Government Information Centre in Windhoek on Tuesday.

OPM Deputy Director for Human Resource Development, Irona Nakanyala said government, as the country's largest employer, had a responsibility to take in more interns.

"As a country, our government is the largest employer, so it has a responsibility to take more interns," Nakanyala said.

OPM`s Human Resource Policy Analyst, Justina Shivolo said the internship policy aimed to give student and graduate interns practical experience in the world of work.

"Academic qualifications alone cannot give experience, skills and the right attitude for work. The policy bridges the gap between what is learned in the classroom and the world of work," Shivolo said.

Nakanyala said the public service internship policy was developed and implementation started on 1 April 2019. During implementation, a number of administrative and implementation challenges were identified, prompting the Department of Public Service Management in the OPM to review the policy.

She said the review focused on internship allowances, duration, leave provisions and supervision.

On internship duration, Nakanyala explained that the previous staff rules provided for a maximum period of three months for student and graduate interns. However, student internship periods were guided by educational institutions rather than being independently determined by government.

She said the review amended the maximum period for graduate internships from three to six months, with placements now running for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months. Student internship periods remained guided by educational institutions, while professional internships were guided by the relevant professional bodies.

Nakanyala also explained that interns who were already in placement could benefit from the revised duration. For example, an intern who started in July could have the placement extended, provided the total period did not exceed six months.

She said the revised rules introduced leave provisions that were previously not available to interns. Under the changes, interns are entitled to two days of vacation leave for each completed month and three days of sick leave per completed month.

She added that leave would not accumulate and urged Offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs) to ensure that interns used their vacation leave before their placements ended.

Nakanyala said the amendments relating to duration, leave and other administrative matters took effect on 1 September 2026. Interns placed from that date were also required to undergo induction to understand what was expected of them during their placements.

On allowances, Shivolo said both student and graduate interns previously received N$2,244.85 per month, with no distinction between the two categories.

Under the revised provisions, student interns will receive N$2,692.50 per month, while graduate interns will receive N$3,769.50 from 1 April 2027.

She said the adjustment was intended to provide financial support to interns in response to the rising cost of living. The distinction in the new rates reflected the fact that graduate interns had already obtained their qualifications and needed financial support to travel beyond their usual areas of residence.

Shivolo said the allowance adjustments would take effect in the next financial year to give OMAs and regional councils time to make the necessary budgetary provisions.

She also clarified that ministries, regional councils and agencies could not independently extend internships beyond the prescribed six months.

They would have to approach the Public Service Commission for a deviation from the staff rules, after which the commission would recommend to the Prime Minister whether to approve or reject the request.

Shivolo said proper planning, mentorship and supervision were necessary to ensure interns completed their programmes within the prescribed period and reduce the need for extensions.

She noted that most extension requests received by the OPM involved graduate interns, particularly those attached to projects that required more time to complete.

The revised allowance programme was earlier announced by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare during the International University of Management (IUM) graduation ceremony in October.

"We as a government therefore have decided to revise the allowance that our interns receive in government. Currently, as you know, it is N$2,200, and we have decided it must now be increased to N$2,692," Ngurare said.

Meanwhile, MEIYSAC Director of Vocational Education and Training, Dalia Mwiya said the national Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Policy provided a common framework for workplace learning across the country.

Mwiya said that before the national policy was introduced, institutions of higher learning and training providers had developed their own policies and procedures for work-integrated learning.

"Employers have also been complaining that universities produce graduates who are unemployable," she said.

She said the national policy was developed to bridge the gap between education and training and the labour market by providing guidance to students, institutions and employers on how workplace learning should be administered.

Mwiya said the policy was launched early in 2026, although it was initially intended to start in 2025. Its implementation timeline runs from 2025 to 2030, as approved by cabinet.

She explained that the policy covered different categories, including student interns, graduates seeking professional registration, professional interns, graduate interns, trainees, apprentices and clerks.

Mwiya said successful implementation would result in more employable graduates and students, better coordination between training institutions and employers, and improved human capital development.

She said employers could also provide feedback to universities and training institutions based on their experiences with interns, helping them identify skills gaps and make changes to their curricula.

Mwiya identified communication, professionalism and financial management as some of the skills graduates often lacked when entering the labour market.

She warned that work-integrated learning should not be treated as a source of cheap labour, stressing that placements had to comply with the Labour Act.