Windhoek: The Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre in the Kavango West Region has been allocated about N$130 million for new infrastructure and training expansion over the 2026/27 to 2028/29 financial years. The institution and its partners have been urged by national and regional leaders to utilize the funds within the specified financial years.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Namibia Training Authority (NTA) General Manager for TVET Regulation, Tobias Nambala, stated that several expansion projects have been approved for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. In an interview with Nampa on Friday, Nambala mentioned that there is N$850,000 allocated for the current financial year, which started in April, to establish a centre canteen or tuckshop facility for trainees.
Plans for a new administration block are also in progress, with an initial budget allocation of N$400,000 for 2026/27 and N$10.5 million for 2027/28. Nambala emphasized that the funds for this financial year are intended to ensure that all documentation and groundwork are completed so that work can commence in April next year.
Additionally, N$29.74 million has been approved for 2026/27 and N$13 million for 2027/28 for a trainee hostel and caretaker's house, with architectural drawings nearly complete at 98%. Phase 1 of the project will accommodate 124 trainees in a double-storey facility with separate wings for males and females, a caretaker's house, sick bay, canteen, and television room.
Other planned projects include agricultural training infrastructure, a joinery and cabinet-making workshop, a modern resource center, and a recreational facility. However, Nambala cautioned that procurement delays and land transfer processes could impact progress.
Tondoro Constituency Councillor Joseph Sikongo emphasized the need for swift implementation, warning against the risk of underutilization of funds. Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo also stressed the importance of regional support, including bursaries and outreach, to ensure that financial or geographical barriers do not hinder local youth from accessing training opportunities.
Currently, Nkurenkuru VTC trains approximately 210 trainees in various fields such as plumbing, welding, solar maintenance, clothing production, and hospitality. Once fully operational, the center is expected to accommodate up to 1,740 trainees.