The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) held a graduation ceremony for the first intake of its 30th basic training course held in 2023 at Omaruru on Thursday.

Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security Albert Kawana, during the ceremony said the Basic Training Intake 1 of 2023 began on 01 March 2023, with a total of 373 recruits consisting of 246 males and 127 females.

‘Today, we welcome 359 graduates who completed the training successfully and are ready for deployment. Fourteen recruits couldn’t make it – six withdrew for personal reasons, four were dismissed for disciplinary contravention, two due to pregnancy, and two were discharged,’ he said.

He encouraged the new graduates to uphold the good name of the correctional service department, which is an integral part of the ministry and the government. Kawana urged the graduates to embody patriotism, courage, and discipline consistently.

NCS Commissioner General Raphael Hamunyela at the event highlighted the service’s commitment to enhan
cing professionalism and imparting skills aligned with modern corrections and the evolving approach to offender treatment. Hamunyela mentioned the recent extension of basic correctional training from six to nine months. This extension aims to incorporate a well-structured practical aspect, exposing recruits to various areas within correctional facilities, assessing their performance based on international minimum standards for, amongst others, inmate treatment, including unit/section duties, escort, guard duties, and searching.

Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)