Japan boosts cutting-edge auto-mechanics programme

Baboki Kayawe | Friday March 17, 2017 17:03

Since the take over of brigades from communities, these facilities have been challenged with financial resources, an official from the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity, and Skills Development said when accepting the grant yesterday.

Director in the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) in the Ministry, Labane Mokgosi said the grant would go a long way in assisting people of Zwenshambe and near-by areas in servicing of their vehicles, tractors and other automobiles.

The Japanese automotive industry is one of the most prominent and largest industries in the world. Presenting the grant, Japanese Ambassador to Botswana Masahiro Onishi said automobiles are essential tools for the people’s lives in Botswana.  “So there is a huge demand for auto-mechanics skills through which people can get a chance of employment,” Onishi said. 

Due to lack of modern machineries, the diplomat said, the auto-mechanics programme at Zwenshambe Brigade tends to be theory-based than practical.

“This affects the content of learning. In order to pave way for the employment of students, it is crucial to have modern machineries in accordance with the syllabus,” Onishi added.

He called the gesture a remarkable improvement of  quality of education at the institution.

Zwenshambe Brigade principal, Brilliant Nsengwa said, “it is worth mentioning that our Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions are challenged with issues ranging from shortage of absolute machinery and equipment in our workshops and laboratories, hence this noble gesture is worth celebrating”.

The institution has previously had Japanese professional volunteers seconded to it.

“This represents good international relations as Japanese, through other entities such as Japan International Cooperation Agency, are continuing to sponsor our people on career development programmes,” Nsengwa said.

The brigade has been offering vocational training for the past 31 years. The financial assistance was offered under the Japanese Governments’ Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects. Since 1997, 48 local organisations have benefited from this scheme.