Oshikoto Governor, Penda Ya Ndakolo, has called on private tertiary institutions to register their business with the relevant authorities, as many students have wasted their money at unregistered institutions and are now without any recognised qualifications.

Ya Ndakolo made the remarks during the inauguration of the Higher Ground Training College (HGTC) at Omuthiya on Friday.

The college offers courses in electrical engineering, certificates in Foundations for Health Sciences, Enrolled Nursing as well as Bachelor in Nursing and Midwifery Science Honours Degree.

He said he is happy that HGTC is fully registered and approved by the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCN).

“As the leadership, we will take action if we learn of any institution in Oshikoto that is not registered by making sure that institution is closed down. We want the correct services to be brought closer to the people of the region,” Ya Ndakolo said.

He said the increase in the number of qualified health care professionals will translate into improved quality of health care, as well as more access to health care services, especially in the rural areas.

“I implore the college management to also register for other health programmes so that students have more courses to choose from,” said Ya Ndakolo, while urging the institution to recruit capable people with the right qualifications who will deliver quality services.

“We are more concerned about the quality of education you will offer than the quantity of graduates you will produce because quality health professionals are needed in this country to sustain and enhance the quality of health in our nation,” the governor said.

HGTC founder and director, Mthembo Amkelani, said the college was established as a nursing school in 2014 and it currently has one branch with 127 registered students.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency