Rundu
Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation Dr Itah Kandji-Murangi has urged vocational graduates to venture into entrepreneurship to provide employment to other Namibians.
“Technical and vocational training graduates need to demonstrate the drive, enterprise and resourcefulness to venture into the world of business,” Kandji-Murangi said.The minister was speaking at Rundu Vocational Training Centre (RVTC), where she officiated at the opening of two workshops for welding, metal fabrication and boiler-making trades, as well as opening a new multi-purpose hall and revamped kitchen.
She said trainees need to be skilled and conditioned in such a way that upon graduation they demonstrate the individual drive and initiative to become job creators and not jobseekers.
The new infrastructure was constructed at the school at a cost of N$35,9 million. The centre obtained the facilities to cater for the growing student population with government funds through the Namibia Training Authority (NTA).
“I expect every vocational training centre to have internal and external sector engagements, as well as consultations to establish how best they can train and support their trainees in this regard, and that is building a formidable foundation for our trainees to become entrepreneurs,” she added.
She further said students are not expected to stay longer than the duration of their programme of study. “If it’s two years that you are expected to be here, make sure you utilise the two years to the maximum. Acquire the required skills – particularly the skills related to entrepreneurship – so that when you leave you set up your own business within your region. Grow the economy of your region and in that way grow the economy of the country,” she advised.
“I should, however, add that given our current training methods and practices the capacities and skills cannot be developed or mastered quickly, but we must begin to seriously interrogate how to expose trainees across all trades to relevant theoretical and practical skills through industry-based internships in order to be able to graduate fully employable graduates.”
She further said the education ministry and NTA need to work towards freeing up opportunities and expanding access, as well as fighting current social and systematic perceptions, under which vocational education and training are still stigmatised as a compensatory avenue for those incapable of excelling in academic fields.