Nipam invests in cleaning, housekeeping

FOURTEEN participants from the National Heritage Council underwent a five-day cleaning and housekeeping course at the Namibia Institute for Public Administration and Management (Nipam) this week.

The training, received at the cost of N$4 500 per trainee in Windhoek and N$5 400 per trainee for those outside Windhoek, aims to identify gaps in professional cleaning and housekeeping standards.

However, Nipam spokesperson Erasmus Shalihaxwe says fees may differ depending on intake and sponsorship arrangements, as partnerships or sponsorships are available to cover participation cost in some cases. He says the institution has observed limited formal training, inconsistent hygiene practices, and a lack of industry-standard skills, leading to the introduction of the course.

“After the training, trainees are expected to apply the cleaning and housekeeping skills acquired, wherever such services are required. Trainees gain hands-on experience through real-life cleaning and housekeeping scenarios in offices, accommodation facilities, and training spaces at the Nipam campus during training,” Shalihaxwe says.

He says the training mostly targets employed individuals from government offices, ministries, agencies, regional councils, local authorities and public enterprises, but is open to individuals interested in enhancing their skills. Nipam offers the course throughout the year, depending on demand and institutional training needs, he says. He says short courses including cleaning run for a week, with trainees receiving certificates upon completion.

However, accredited programmes by the Namibia Qualifications Authority levels 6, 7 and 8 may extend for up to a year.

Beyond cleaning and housekeeping, Shalihaxwe says Nipam offers other courses such as leadership and management, disciplinary procedures, finance for non-financial managers and project management.

He says the institution is mandated to build capacity in Namibia’s public sector through training, consultancy, research and performance evaluation, with a focus on improving service delivery and promoting good governance.

Shalihaxwe says Nipam will host the African Management Development Institutes’ Network second annual conference in Windhoek from 18 to 20 May, and is expected to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and dialogue on strengthening public sector professionalism and innovation across Africa.

The institution is responsible for enhancing skills, improving performance, and promoting professional development among public servants, while also supporting good governance and effective service delivery, he says.

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