Ohorongo devoted to skills and knowledge

In support of government initiatives and to close the skills shortage gap, Ohorongo Cement took in two students from the Commercial Advancement Training Scheme (CATS).
ELIZABETH JOSEPH
Staff Reporter



The academic component of the CATS programme is presented by the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Besides all the benefits of being a student at NUST, through the two-year programme, the candidates will obtain valuable in-depth practical industry knowledge and experience. During the practical phase in the company, the students participate actively in daily duties alongside permanent employees during their time of deployment in a department. The students are working four days a week on a rotational basis at the cement plant near Otavi, as well as at the head office and depot in Windhoek. They attend theoretical classes at NUST on Fridays and Saturdays. The programme allows for advancement in their academic career as well as getting practical insights into a business.

“Ohorongo Cement is committed to Namibia and its people, therefore all these efforts are aimed at ensuring that Namibia becomes an industrialised country by following through with the country’s policy initiatives of Vision 2030, the Growth at Home strategy of the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development and the Harambee Prosperity Plan,” says Ohorongo managing director, Hans-Wilhelm Schütte.

During the two years the company will have the opportunity to identify the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses before considering permanent employment.

A permanent employed candidate will commence employment in a familiar environment, and will be able to use the established network and qualification to immediately contribute positively to the company’s goals and objectives.

Graduates of the programme are awarded an Industrial Management Assistant Diploma and besides the CATS programme, Ohorongo Cement continues to invest in national skills development through skills and knowledge transfer and training initiatives that are aimed at employment creation and ultimately poverty reduction. These include, amongst others, the Brickmaking Academy and in-house control room operator training and training interventions, in partnership with the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT).