Creating a gateway

Ester KamatiOver 1 000 graduates, two of whom are inmates, graduated from the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) at a ceremony that took place on 22 August at the Safari Court Hotel. One of the inmates from the Windhoek Correctional Facility, Collin Evert Swartbooi, received an NQF level 4 certificate in education for development. He said the qualification serves as a starting point for him to further his studies.He said it’s a good thing that people in a similar position, as he is, are not excluded from the academic sphere. “This is a stepping stone for me to accomplish the goals I have for myself to become a better person when I am one day integrated back into society,” Swartbooi said.He said he is inspired by his fellow inmates who graduated before him and drew motivation from the support he received from his family, specifically his mother and fiancé. “Namcol plays a critical role in ensuring that our youth are empowered with the relevant skills and knowledge to not only be able to get jobs in the market, but most importantly to generate and create employment opportunities,” said acting education minister Martin Andjamba.This year alone, the institution enrolled 43 139 students in various disciplines and according to Andjamba, these students come from various segments of society and are making a difference in terms of the economic development of the country. Namcol has additionally introduced a bachelor of arts in youth development, with the first graduates expected in 2021.The college has managed to gain international recognition and was the e-learning winner of the World Summit Awards in the education category in 2015, which proves the quality of service and learning offered by the establishment. Namcol director Heroldt Murangi said: “Today we are able to fill all the chambers and graduate students in 10 different disciplines, ranging from the TVET sector, community development, local government administration and youth work, among others.” The graduation ceremony was held under the theme: ‘Learning to thrive in a transforming world: The relevance of open and distance learning in an era of the 4th Industrial Revolution’. Murangi warned that technology is taking over and the only way to remain relevant in the job market is through constant learning and betterment. “Only through being a lifelong learner will you prevent other people from taking your jobs,” he added.

Creating a gateway

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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Creating a gateway

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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