Youth equipped with road construction skills
ONGWEDIVA – After nearly two decades in the construction industry, Ashipala Iipinge identified a gap in vocational education for road construction and mainten
2026-08-192026-08-19By Festus Hamalwa
ONGWEDIVA – After nearly two decades in the construction industry, Ashipala Iipinge identified a gap in vocational education for road construction and maintenance.
This led him to establish the country’s first vocational school, Mekadesh Technical College, dedicated to road construction and maintenance, to provide young people with practical skills and to fill a gap in technical education.
Iipinge said that years of working alongside foremen, machine operators and road construction crews inspired him to establish the institution in 2023.
“I spent 17 years in the road construction and maintenance industry. During that time, I realised that many workers had valuable practical experience but lacked formal training and a deeper understanding of the profession. That realisation inspired me to establish a vocational institution dedicated to this field,” he told the Youth Corner.
Operating from Maroela Mall in Ongwediva, the college, under the motto “Skills Today. Solutions Tomorrow,” offers the National Certificate in Road Construction and Maintenance Operations at Levels 1 to 4.
Iipinge said the programme equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required to plan, supervise and manage road construction and maintenance projects.
“Students are trained in occupational safety, site measurements, interpreting construction drawings and specifications, supervising routine maintenance, project management, quality assurance and road inspections. To accommodate different learners, the institution offers face-to-face, part-time, online and distance learning. Every student is also enrolled in a free job attachment programme to gain practical industry experience,” he stressed.
Iipinge explained the idea for the college emerged after discovering that no vocational institution in Namibia offered specialised training in road construction and maintenance.
“While institutions such as Unam and NUST produce engineers and technicians, there was no vocational programme specifically focused on road construction and maintenance. We established Mekadesh Technical College to bridge that gap,” he said.
He said the country’s expanding road infrastructure offers long-term employment opportunities for trained professionals.
“Roads are the backbone of our economy and require continuous construction, rehabilitation and maintenance. This creates sustained demand for skilled workers. The training we provide also enables graduates to start their own businesses and create employment for others,” he said.
The college admits applicants with Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12. Applicants without these qualifications may also qualify for mature-age entry if they have at least three years of relevant work experience.
Despite being the first institution of its kind, Iipinge said the college faces challenges, including limited funding, the high cost of training equipment and machinery, and shifting public perceptions of vocational education.
“Practical training requires significant investment in equipment and materials. We also continue to engage industry partners to expand opportunities for workplace training and to demonstrate the value of vocational education,” he said.
He encouraged young Namibians to pursue technical and vocational training, noting that practical skills remain one of the strongest foundations for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
“A skill is something no one can take away from you. Instead of waiting for opportunities, equip yourself with practical knowledge, build your future, and become part of the people developing Namibia’s infrastructure,” he said.
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