A registered training and consulting business in northern Namibia has introduced a structured model that links childcare training directly to paid job placements, while setting strict intake and assessment rules for students.
Tuko-Kau HR Consulting and Training Hub said its Elite Care Academy is designed to professionalise domestic work by training caregivers and placing them in real jobs in households, while still providing supervision and support.
Founder Hilma Kakunde said the initiative was created to address gaps in childcare standards and to open structured job opportunities, especially for young people.
She said the idea came from her own experience as a working mother who struggled to find reliable and trained childcare after relocating from Walvis Bay to the North. “The norm I kept hearing was: “This is how nannies are.’ As if low standards must just be accepted,” she said.
Kakunde said the academy does not accept large numbers of students and is focused on quality training. For now, intake is limited to about 20 students, with a maximum capacity of 50 as the programme grows. She said applicants are not automatically accepted.
“All students go through assessments. We filter to make sure we select the right candidates. It is not just open admission,” she said.
The focus is mainly on young people, with selection guided by legal requirements under the relevant labour and training laws.
Unlike many training programmes, the academy is directly responsible for placing students in households after training. Kakunde said this is done to ensure that graduates are not left unemployed after completing their training.
“Our responsibility is to make sure our students are not left on the street. We place them in jobs and continue to support them,” she said.
During placement, caregivers work in households, earn an income, and continue to receive monitoring and guidance from the academy for up to 12 months.
She said all placements are paid, with families required to pay at least the minimum wage or more, in line with labour expectations.
“This ensures fairness, dignity and proper recognition of the work being done,” she said.
The academy offers structured training in childcare, child safety, nutrition, hygiene, household management, communication and emotional intelligence. It also provides a certification system with Entry Level, Advanced Level and Premium Standard Certification, allowing caregivers to grow step by step. Kakunde said the goal is to turn domestic work into a structured career path rather than informal employment.
“This is about building real jobs where young people can learn, earn and grow,” she said.
She added that, the wider aim is to improve standards in childcare and shift how society views domestic work.
“Caring for children is serious work. It needs training, discipline and accountability,” she said.
The initiative will build a system that connects training, job placements and professional standards in one structured model.