TUCSIN crestTUCSINStudies in Namibia

Milestones

Education and training for Namibians, since 1978.

During the 1970s Namibia was administered like a province of South Africa, and a university in Namibia was a controversial subject. It took courage to provide a forum for Namibians and others to demand access to higher academic education.

  1. 1978

    • June: activities begin at TUCSIN House, first on a farm outside Windhoek and then in the centre of town — hosting educationists, visiting scientists and students.
    • Members undertake field trips, assist researchers, teach special subjects and help set up new classrooms. Scholarships and funds are secured to prepare students for university careers in the natural sciences.

  2. 1982

    • TUCSIN Windhoek begins administering international educational tests.

  3. 1984–1994

    • The Konrad Adenauer Foundation funds the TUCSIN Complementary Course; roughly 250 students benefit and go on to key positions across Namibia.

  4. 1992

    • TUCSIN is registered as an Educational Trust governed by a Board of Trustees.

  5. 2000

    • By the end of the millennium TUCSIN has been instrumental in qualifying well over 600 Namibians in fields critical to the country's development.

  6. 2015

    • March: 1,049 students enrolled across four centres.
    • A database of qualified and experienced Grade 12 teachers is established at the Windhoek centres.
    • August: the Heritage & Culture Seminar takes place in Tsumkwe.

  7. 2016

    • February: 46 full-time and 80 part-time staff work at five locations in central and northern Namibia.
    • March: a one-day conference with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on the role of education in creating opportunities for Namibia's youth.
    • October: 127 DAAD applications processed and 36 scholarships awarded for advanced studies.
    • August: TUCSIN Khomasdal raises N$13,700 for the Cancer Association of Namibia.

  8. 2017

    • February: 840 students registered at four centres; TUCSIN administers 51 DAAD scholarships.
    • June: Cliff Olivier becomes Director; Dr Wilfred Bezuidenhout becomes Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
    • September: TUCSIN Tsumkwe upgrades its infrastructure and community support programme.

  9. 2018

    • June: 40th anniversary under the theme “Celebrating the Namibian Youth” — a Career Day, Cultural and Social Awareness Day, tertiary institution visits and academic presentations.
    • 11 June: keynote by Dr Obed Kandjoze, a former Complementary Course student (1986); 400 students and staff march to Palm Tree Park with a petition to Parliament on social ills.
    • The Dr-B.-Sandelowsky-Campus name is adopted for TUCSIN House.
    • Students found the TUCSIN Twapandula (“We are grateful”) Social Club.

  10. 2019

    • 15 June: 41st anniversary and Dr Beatrice Sandelowsky's 80th birthday celebrated with staff, alumni and associates.
    • August: TUCSIN Spring School.
    • Drought and economic decline, plus restructuring of the education system, reduce course participation.

  11. 2020

    • March: all centres close on 17 March under COVID-19 directives; teachers move to Zoom, Google Classroom and the Welwitschia online platform.
    • June: TUCSIN joins the Association of Principals of Private Schools and submits a COVID-19 protocol to resume face-to-face classes.

  12. 2021

    • January: the TUCSIN Rundu Centre closes due to low enrolment.
    • September: the Chief Bobo Livelihood Centre is constructed, funded by UBUNTU and the German BMZ.
    • December: Lena Guriras marks 30 years of service with TUCSIN.

  13. 2022

    • January: the Chief Bobo Livelihood Centre (CBLC) is inaugurated at Tsumkwe, empowering the San community to grow their own income. TUCSIN implements and runs the centre.
    • May: the Board extends Mr Cliff Olivier's contract as Director.
    • December: the TUCSIN North Centre closes after low intake.

  14. 2023

    • January: TUCSIN Windhoek High School, a STEM school, officially opens for Grade 8 and 9 learners.
    • June: TUCSIN celebrates its 45th anniversary.

  15. 2024

    • June: TUCSIN celebrates its 46th anniversary.
    • July: TUCSIN Khomasdal and TUCSIN Main merge to consolidate enrolment and reduce operational costs.