The training and accreditation of road builders and artisans in Namibia

Abstract

Paper presented at the 26th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9 - 12 July 2007 "The challenges of implementing policy?", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT:The question is not what the cost is of having road builders appropriately qualified, but rather what are the costs of not having them trained. The aim of this project is therefore to qualify road builders in accordance with an accredited training programme to more effectively build and maintain safe roads as well as to empower the people that are trained. The training programme was initiated in Namibia by the Roads Authority with the assistance of the German development organisation, InWent. The training programme covers Levels 1 to 4 of the Namibian National Qualifications Framework. The scope of this paper is to share the experience of the Roads Authority on the road they have walked to obtain the support of the Ministry and stakeholders as well as to set up a working relationship with the Namibian Qualifications Authority (NQA) and industry at large. As the outcomes of the first operations of the project are evaluated by the stakeholders, the Roads Authority and InWent have decided to appoint permanent staff to move the project through its next implementation stage.