SPIRES Project Manager and Chief Technical Advisor met with the Dean of faculty of Science and Technology for SINU Mr. Eric Katovai, TVET Director Mr. Solomon Pita and Solomon Power CE Mr. Martin Sau and have discussed some of the issues that SINU has faced with the program they offered. SINU under its TVET Program has offered a Diploma Programme in RE Solar Photovoltaic System, this would enable any electrical installer interested in the programme to undertake the course and be certified as a RE Photovoltaic Installer. The programme was sponsored by an organisation called GSES, GSES sent trainers to teach this programme here in the country in 2020 but due to Covid the trainers have returned.
The 12 students who were currently enrolled in that course are yet to complete the course and graduate from the programme.
As to date there are no certified Solar installer for the country and Solomon Power has been working also in collab with SINU to have their electrical installers be certified to both install and design Solar PV Systems under this programme SINU has offered.
This meeting has enabled SPIRES to collaborate with SINU to enable electrical installers within the Ministry and the project team to undergo this programme and be certified as PV Design and Installers. This partnership would also help the project in terms of our Capacity Building Programme to train people from communities of our sites to undergo short courses within SINU to be able to look after the operations and maintenance system of the PV Systems.