KEETMANSHOOP – The need for more education facilities in the country is evident from the high number of desperate school leavers trying to get placement in available education institutions.
The Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) principal at the southern campus, Eugene Bingham, told New Era that year in and year out a high number of young people are turned away by NIMT because of there being no more space.
“It touches my heart to see these children coming here without knowing whether they will be accepted or not – that just indicates to me the dire need for training centres,” he said sadly.
Bingham underlined that although the names of those that are admitted to different NIMT campuses are published in newspapers well beforehand, some others still turn up hoping to get a chance to study, adding that many come from as far as Oshakati.
He disclosed that about 75 young people who were not on the shortlist and mostly from the north were sent away on Monday when registration started at Keetmanshoop.
“It’s a very sad picture and it’s a pity that we don’t have more training facilities in the country where these young people can be accommodated,” he stressed.
Naftal Abnier, one of the affected young men who missed out, revealed he was on the shortlist but did not make it. He arrived at midday on Monday after a long journey from Oshakati only to be informed all places were filled.
He recalled how he had to sleep at a service station in Windhoek as the bus couldn’t continue to the south because of mechanical problems.
He phoned to inform the institution he would arrive late because of the mechanical breakdown but his place was already taken when he got there.
“How can the places be full if we were called to come here?” he questioned.
A few hopefuls New Era spoke to were still optimistic. Despite not getting placement at the southern campus they will travel to other campuses hoping the shortlisted candidates did not pitch up.
“I came from Oshakati and now I will go try at Tsumeb and Arandis,” said one of the expectant young men.
NIMT is a Namibian institution aimed at giving theoretical, practical and technical know-how to people to effect their taking up positions in various sectors of the country.