The Tema International University, a newly-established private higher education institution in Omuthiya, Oshikoto region, is open to anyone interested in pursuing careers in the education and agriculture fields.
It was founded in May 2019, but was put on hold when the pandemic set in early 2020 in Namibia.
Two years later, Tema International University founder, Tobias Iimene promised that the university is ready to take off, and will open and take in its first students in March this
year.
Iimene told Youth Corner that although the Namibian government has made education accessible to all, in line with the Namibian Constitution and other international agencies, the provision for post-secondary education in the Oshikoto region is not properly and fully addressed, as there is no institution of higher learning there to enable citizens to improve their livelihoods.
“The shortage of both state and private university centres in the Oshikoto region is a matter of great concern,” he said.
Iimene further noted that every year, grade 12 and now grade 11 learners go to other regions outside Oshikoto for university education and in the process, a lot of money is spent on transportation and accommodation, which unfortunately some struggle with due to financial constraints.
“Moreover, some flock to the neighbouring countries such as South Africa or Zimbabwe, which shows that Namibians are hungry for university education.”
He added that the need to establish a private university in Omuthiya is in response to the educational needs of the Oshikoto region and beyond, and a local university like Tema would save their time and foreign currency.
Tema is planning to provide a wide range of courses and a department of vocational training in due course, but will first kick off with two faculties. The Faculty of Education will offer a Bachelor of Pre-Primary and Lower Education (Honours), and the Faculty of Science in Agriculture will offer a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Animal Science (Hons).
The university is registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, Namibia Revenue Agency and the Social Security Commission. Iimene explained that the institution is not yet registered with the Namibia Qualifications Authority, as the evaluation is made depending on the number of students and staff registered at the institution, and the institution has not yet registered its students.
“It is the same with the NCHE (National Council of Higher Education). It is not registered with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) yet either, because NTA is mainly for vocational training institutions, and Tema is not starting off as a vocational training institution, but it will be when such courses get introduced at the
institution.”
Applications and registration are still open. For more information call 0812985144 or email tobiasiimene@gmail.com.