2017-10-09Staff Report 2 John Muyamba Nkurenkuru-Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation Dr Itah Kandji-Murangi has described the construction of Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West Region as an important milestone as it would provide more training opportunities for young Namibians aspiring to enter the Technical and Vocational Education and Training stream. Kandji-Murangi made the remarks last Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony, which signaled the commencement of the project to construct a fully-fledged state-of-the-art VTC at Nkurenkuru. The groundbreaking clears the way for the first phase, which is the bulk service phase of the project, which includes clearing an 11-hectare plot purchased for this purpose from Nkurenkuru Town Council at the cost of N$1,5 million and the rendering of bulk earthwork services, as well as the construction of an access road to the facility external works, paving and sewer reticulation systems at a cost of N$11,6 million. The next phase of the project will involve fencing off the site, the construction of an administration block, library, trainee accommodation, staff quarters and the construction of workshops and classrooms for the priority trades. In line with the projections of a feasibility study for this project, it is anticipated that the NVTC upon completion of subsequent construction phases to follow, will eventually boast a semester enrolment capacity of 2,695 trainees in about 20 different occupation areas when it opens its doors in 2020. “In response to a pressing demand for technical and vocational training opportunities for inhabitants of the Kavango West Region the Ministry and the Namibia Training Authority have prioritised the establishment of a public vocational training centre at the regional capital of Nkurenkuru as a key and immediate capital project,” Kandji-Murangi said. Kavango West Governor Sirkka Ausiku, who has been inviting development to her region welcomed the project saying that it is indeed a step in the right direction. “Being a new region, which is 99% rural, with a high level of unemployment this project is indeed a mark of development and will no doubt change the livelihood of our community. “NVTC facility will help the region address unemployment and poverty amongst our people, because the facility will equip students with practical skills as demanded by the region, but will cater for the whole country,” Ausiku said. “You will also agree with me that the NVTC will change the face of Nkurenkuru, reshape and strengthen the government’s development agenda in our region. “This project is part of the Harambee Property Plan that talks about the establishment of Nkurenkuru VTC in the Year Two of the Harambee period and it is also part of the NDP5,” Ausiku noted. 2017-10-09Staff Report 2
