WINDHOEK: The Chairman Petroleum Training and Education Fund on Wednesday announced that the fund intends to offer more undergraduates and postgraduate scholarships in 2013.
Kahijoro Kahuure who handed over computer workstations valued at over N. dollars 124 000 to the Geology Department at the University of Namibia (UNAM) in the capital on Wednesday said, currently PetroFund has over 50 students on scholarships at institutions of higher education in Namibia and in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The noted that the Petrofund Board of Trustees has recently offered seven scholarships to young Namibians who will undertake petroleum based postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom during the September 2012 academic year.
These courses include Master’s Degrees in Exploration Geophysics and Msc. In Petroleum Engineering amongst others, he said.
He noted that this will be the first crew of students that the Trust Fund will send overseas and will cost it N. dollars two million.
“This is firm demonstration of our commitment towards meeting the objectives of the Trust. It is our wish that Namibia becomes self-sufficient in petroleum experts,” the Chairman stressed.
According to Kahuure, apart from the scholarships, over N. dollars four million was spent in improving resources at various educational institutions as well as improving the teaching of science, mathematics and technology in Namibia.
He noted that since its inception in 1992, the Petrofund has trained more than 186 graduates primarily in engineering sciences and geosciences who are currently working for various employers in Namibia.
Meanwhile, established in 1992 through Clause 14 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 1991, the Petrofund is aimed at offering scholarships to high performing students interested in pursuing a career in the petroleum industry and the education sector of Namibia’s economy.
It is also aimed at strengthening institutions with the view of promoting knowledge of sciences and mathematics in the country.