KEETMANSHOOP – With its mission to provide accessible, relevant and quality vocational training to learners of the two southern regions and the broader the community, the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) will provide golden opportunities for unemployed youth.
During an exclusive interview yesterday with New Era, newly appointed head of centre Benedictus Diergaardt said the core function of the centre will be providing vocational training in the fields of the upcoming energy sectors (green hydrogen, oil and gas) as well as agriculture.
“Through stakeholder consultations, fields like coded welding, solar installation and maintenance, road construction, occupational health and safety, wind turbine technician drivers and heavy plant operators, instrumentation technician, rigging and information and communication technology will be considered and rolled out systematically in future, “ he noted.
To address a possible high influx of trainees in light of government’s announcement of all tertiary education and vocational training to be free of charge from 2026, Diergaardt he said: “If such scenario occurs we will have a vigorous process of screening applicants who conform to set criteria for admission to training courses to ensure that the needs do not exceed KVTC’s abilities and capabilities whilst applicants can also apply at other vocational training centres in the country”.
In terms of the practical part of training courses to be offered, he said the centre will liaise with relevant facilities in the //Kharas region for on-job training.
“We also have to cater for those kids who are not performing academically to set standards. Hence, a lot of emphasis will be laid on the practical side of the curriculums, “ Diergaardt said.
He added that recent stakeholder consultations were held with Hyphen, the European Union Namibian representatives and GIZ to come on board with the training processes.
Referring to the official opening of the facility, he was confident that the centre will be handed over soonest to the Namibia Training Authority.
The first intake is expected by July/August 2025.
“As a son of the soil, growing up in Keetmanshoop and realising the need for training opportunities for our youth, it is my clarion call to them to take up this golden opportunity and qualify themselves in technical occupations for future benefits,” he said.
The state-of-the-art facility consists of two theory classrooms, four workshops, an administration block and 140-bed capacity, self-catering hostel.
During the next phase, pending the availability of funds, more classrooms, another hostel block, six workshops, an information resource centre and sports facilities will be constructed.
The financial implications for constructing the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre stands at more than N$120 million.
It will accommodate between 300-500 trainees.
-sklukowski@nepc.com.na