Dr Kapolo aligns TVET training with Namibia’s national priorities

Mover and Shaker
Phillipus Josef
  • 1 Day Ago
As the head of TVET at NamWater’s Human Resources Development Centre in Okahandja, Dr Beatha Ndinelao Kapolo spearheads initiatives designed to meet industry needs.

She emphasised the significance of aligning training with national priorities.

“Our courses in heavy plant operations, plumbing, and electrical work fill essential gaps in the water and renewable energy sectors,” she said.

Additionally, she shared plans to launch programmes in solar installation and industrial mechatronics, ensuring that NamWater stays pertinent in Namibia’s shift towards a green economy.



Education and experience

Kapolo’s journey in education began at the age of 24, when she became a secondary school teacher, specialising in agriculture, life sciences, and home ecology.

Her early experiences, such as teaching students practical skills like engine mechanics and orchard cultivation, planted the seeds for her passion for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

“These hands-on experiences revealed the transformative potential of TVET and its ability to create tangible opportunities for learners,” she shared.

After earning her master's in education, Dr Kapolo transitioned into the TVET sector in 2015 as the head of training at Nakayale Vocational Training Centre (VTC).

Over nine years, she expanded the centre's offerings from two programmes to eight accredited qualifications, reaching NQF Level 4 and diploma level 5.

She spearheaded internal audits, chaired the quality assurance committee, and introduced blended distance learning programmes, creating accessible, skills-focused pathways for learners.

Dr Kapolo recognised the difficulties in overcoming misconceptions about TVET, stressing that achieving success in this field demands “discipline, perseverance and hard work.”

She has also navigated the challenge of balancing her professional development with personal commitments, completing two advanced programmes and working towards her PhD while juggling her career and family responsibilities.

Future and mentorship

Looking to the future, Dr Kapolo imagines a TVET system that incorporates technology, meets industry demands and encourages collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Her leadership is influenced by mentors like Erick Fundula Nenghwanya, the CEO of the Namibia Training Authority, who has guided her for nearly a decade.

To young individuals contemplating careers in TVET, Dr Kapolo advises: “Seize every chance to learn and develop. Success in TVET is not given to you – it is something you must earn.”