Not all learning takes place in a classroom. Sometimes, it happens behind a welding mask, a workbench, or at a farm.  Vocational training is not a back-up plan; it is a plan for the future. From bricklaying in Eehnana, solar installations in Keetmanshoop and to hospitality skills in Swakopmund, Namibia is a country full of opportunities. 

We have diamonds, strong winds, sunshine, and beautiful land. But our greatest strength is our young people. Sadly, many are stuck in their situations. They finish school but can’t find work still. Some don’t get into university, and those who do graduate with degrees but do not get the jobs. 

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (2024), youth unemployment in some areas exceeds 50%. This is not just a number; it means thousands of young people are sitting at home, without hope or direction. However, there is a clear solution we are not utilising enough —vocational training.

What is vocational training?

Vocational training involves learning practical skills like carpentry, welding, farming, mechanics, cooking, plumbing, or electrical work. It provides young people with the tools to find jobs or even start their own business enterprises. 

Vocational training is not a fallback plan; it is a future plan. We need more people who can install solar panels, build houses, repair water systems, and grow food. These are not low-level jobs. They are jobs that keep a country functioning.

We have a skills gap, not a job gap

Many Namibian employers say they can’t find skilled workers, even when jobs are available. A 2023 report from the National Planning Commission says more than 60% of employers struggle to fill technical jobs, especially in the construction, mining and agriculture sectors. 

So, the real problem is not that there are no jobs. It’s that we don’t have enough trained people to do them. This is where TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) comes in. It can help us close this gap.

Breaking the stigma

In Namibia, many people view vocational training as an avenue only for students who didn’t do well in school. This is wrong — and it needs to change. In countries like Germany, vocational training is highly respected. Young people combine classroom instruction with hands-on work, earning a salary while they learn. 

In Botswana and Rwanda, governments are investing in skills training to grow their economies. Namibia must follow suit. We must respect all types of education. University is beneficial, but it is not the only way to succeess.

What young people are saying

During a youth dialogue in the Ohangwena region, a young woman said: “If we had proper training centres in our communities, we wouldn’t be sitting idle. We would be working. We would be learning. We would be building.” She is right . . . and many other young people feel the same way too.

What Namibia should do

To make vocational education a genuine option for everyone, we must take action. Build more vocational centres, especially in rural areas. Update the curriculum to include modern skills like renewable energy, ICT and agribusiness. Run awareness campaigns to demonstrate that vocational training is valuable and respected, similar to what the National African Students Association (Nasa) is doing. Create partnerships between schools and businesses so students can gain practical work experience. Support the National Training Authority and the Ministry of Education with adequate funding and leadership.

A skilled Namibia is a strong Namibia

Namibia does not need more unemployed graduates. We need skilled people who can solve real problems — technicians, builders, farmers, welders, electricians, coders. These are the people who will build our roads, feed our communities, and power our homes. Vocational training is not second-class. It is essential. It is the future.

*Mandume Gabriel is a student advocate. He can be reached at -mandumegabriel220102@gmail.com