19 Mar 2017

In an Effort to pave way for the employment of students pursuing Auto Machanics programme at Zwenshambe Brigade, Japanese Government has granted P194,593 to the brigade for improvement of the programme.

Speaking at the grant contract signing ceremony recently, Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Masahiro Onishi said it was crucial for the students to have modern machinery commensurate  with the syllabus.

“I am pleased that our assistance this time will contribute to the remarkable improvement of quality of education at Zwenshambe Brigades, which will be helpful for student to obtain their career,” he said.

Mr Onishi expressed concern that due to lack of modern machinery, the auto-mechanics programme has tended to be theory based rather than practical, hence affecting the content of learning.

“I believe that this project will meet the needs of the people to access employment through vocational training,” he said.

“Last year marked not only the 50th Anniversary of Botswana Independence, but also the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Japan and Botswana.I hope this project, which started last year, will stand as the benchmark of the friendship and cooperation of Botswana and Japan,” he said.

That was the fifth project being approved by the Japanese government under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Humanity Security Projects for the fiscal year 2016.

The programme had already extended assistance to 48 organisations in Botswana, and so Zwenshanbe Brigade was the 49th recipient since the launch of the scheme in Botswana.

For his part, Principal of Zwenshanbe Brigade, Mr Brilliant Nsengwa commended the Japanese government for their commitment in improving the Auto Mechanics training programme at the Brigade.

“This sponsorship will improve our services in the wake to implement programmes that are responsive to the industry need. Our institutions are challenged with issues ranging from shortage to obsolete machinery and equipment in our workshops and laboratories,” he said.

He commended Japan for the their continued representation of the good international relations such as the JICA, which sponsors people on career development programmes and Japanese Professional Volunteers, which are often seconded to institutions.

Mr Nsengwa pleaded with those with capacity to emulate the gesture by the Japanese government to assist. ENDS