The Türkiye government, through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has refurbished workshops at the Pionier Boys School, equipping it with state-of-the-art machinery to expose pupils toto the various crafts.
Türkiye ambassador to Namibia Feral Çekerek Oruçkaptan said the school has played an important role in preparing pupils for a future they can shape independently by their abilities.
“It is very impressive that the school presents a variety of options such as carpentry, metal shop, mechanics, plumbing and bricklaying to the learners. Maintenance of these workshops and supplying materials as well as refurbishments every 10 or 15 years need stable funds’ flow and donations,” said Oruçkaptan at the handover of the workshop recently. She said despite the dire financial conditions, the school’s endeavours to keep the premises in good condition are impressive and worth mentioning. Situated in Dorado Park, Windhoek, the school offers grades 5-7 for learners between 14 and 18 years of age, as well as vocational training.
School principal Brian Ndabeni said the pupils have potential, and need access to adequate resources.
“The support is not only a gift to the school, but also a powerful investment in our pupils’ future,” he said, adding that since the establishment in 1965, Pionier Boys School has stood as a beacon of opportunity and an important role model in education in the region. “We are proud to be the only school in the area, if not the entire country, offering such a comprehensive range of educational programmes, from welding to metal fabrication to plumbing and pipefitting, woodwork, motor mechanics, bricklaying and plastering.
TIKA country coordinator Omer Ozbey said Turkey is trying to address issues of youth unemployment.
“One of the most important reasons for high youth unemployment is the lack of a sufficient qualified workforce in the labour market. We believe institutions like this school will make the biggest contribution to solving this problem, and we know that most of the graduates of this school are already contributing to economic development, either as workers or by opening their own businesses and creating new jobs,” said Ozbey.
TIKA is also involved in other projects, including the renovation of the tailoring workshop, library and computer laboratories at the Katutura Multi-Purpose Youth Centre.