Namibia’s link to Loudima centre severed for now
The higher education ministry executive director, Dr Alfred van Kent, kept mum on the cost of the former Loudima centre staff’s salaries, but confirmed that they have been absorbed by various ministries.
JANA-MARI SMITH
WINDHOEK
Namibia has withdrawn its support of the beleaguered Loudima Institute for Technical and Vocational Training partnership in the Congo, and the bilateral project is currently under review.
The Namibian government halted all funding to the centre after an exodus of Namibian staff and students.
“Since there are no Namibians at the centre, the ministry is not contributing to the operational expenses of the centre,” higher education ministry executive director, Dr Alfred van Kent, confirmed.
Yesterday, he said the Namibian and Congolese governments “are busy reviewing the agreement which forms part of the bilateral arrangements between the two states,” and once the discussions are concluded, the way ahead with regards to Namibia’s involvement will be made clear.
‘Not on leave’
The ministry confirmed that most of the staff had returned to Namibia in 2017.
However, the Namibian school principal only returned last year due to medical reasons.
The staff who are back in the country continue to receive their salaries.
“They are not on leave. The ministry has placed many of them in various ministries, while the remaining few are being absorbed in the ministry,” Van Kent said.
He added that the cost of the salaries being paid to the former Loudima staff in Namibia cannot be made public.
It remains unclear when Namibia withdrew funding to the centre, which was inaugurated in 2014 as part of an agreement between the two countries.
However, Van Kent said staff had raised “various concerns”, which were brought to the attention of the Congolese minister and Namibian minister responsible for technical and vocational education and training.
Among the issues were the condition of staff accommodation, language struggles in a predominantly French country, medication, water, internet and transport, he said.
Crumbled dream
The ministry said since 2016, 100 Namibians had been enrolled at the centre, “with many having returned without having completed their studies for various reasons.
“So far, 20 students have graduated from the centre.”
The revival of Loudima, which once trained exiled Namibians during the pre-independence war, was first raised in 2007 by Congolese president Denis Sassou-Nguesso.
In 2014, Sassou-Nguesso and his Namibian counterpart president Hifikepunye Pohamba inaugurated the facility to great fanfare, with the renovated centre hailed as a state-of-the-art institute that would mould Namibians with national and international qualifications.
Since the first intake of students, however, the training centre has been plagued by multiple reports linked to allowance and salary troubles, and “unbearable academic and living conditions”.
Van Kent challenged views that the centre had been woefully mismanaged and millions of Namibian funding poured in with little to show for it.
“It is not true. There has been no mismanagement at the centre.”
WINDHOEK
Namibia has withdrawn its support of the beleaguered Loudima Institute for Technical and Vocational Training partnership in the Congo, and the bilateral project is currently under review.
The Namibian government halted all funding to the centre after an exodus of Namibian staff and students.
“Since there are no Namibians at the centre, the ministry is not contributing to the operational expenses of the centre,” higher education ministry executive director, Dr Alfred van Kent, confirmed.
Yesterday, he said the Namibian and Congolese governments “are busy reviewing the agreement which forms part of the bilateral arrangements between the two states,” and once the discussions are concluded, the way ahead with regards to Namibia’s involvement will be made clear.
‘Not on leave’
The ministry confirmed that most of the staff had returned to Namibia in 2017.
However, the Namibian school principal only returned last year due to medical reasons.
The staff who are back in the country continue to receive their salaries.
“They are not on leave. The ministry has placed many of them in various ministries, while the remaining few are being absorbed in the ministry,” Van Kent said.
He added that the cost of the salaries being paid to the former Loudima staff in Namibia cannot be made public.
It remains unclear when Namibia withdrew funding to the centre, which was inaugurated in 2014 as part of an agreement between the two countries.
However, Van Kent said staff had raised “various concerns”, which were brought to the attention of the Congolese minister and Namibian minister responsible for technical and vocational education and training.
Among the issues were the condition of staff accommodation, language struggles in a predominantly French country, medication, water, internet and transport, he said.
Crumbled dream
The ministry said since 2016, 100 Namibians had been enrolled at the centre, “with many having returned without having completed their studies for various reasons.
“So far, 20 students have graduated from the centre.”
The revival of Loudima, which once trained exiled Namibians during the pre-independence war, was first raised in 2007 by Congolese president Denis Sassou-Nguesso.
In 2014, Sassou-Nguesso and his Namibian counterpart president Hifikepunye Pohamba inaugurated the facility to great fanfare, with the renovated centre hailed as a state-of-the-art institute that would mould Namibians with national and international qualifications.
Since the first intake of students, however, the training centre has been plagued by multiple reports linked to allowance and salary troubles, and “unbearable academic and living conditions”.
Van Kent challenged views that the centre had been woefully mismanaged and millions of Namibian funding poured in with little to show for it.
“It is not true. There has been no mismanagement at the centre.”
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