Max Henrich
ONGEWEDIVA - The Nakayale Vocational Training Centre in Outapi in the Omusati region has opted to offer a few of its vocational courses online.
The NVTC officially opened its doors to the public in August 2011 with 40 trainees and 5 trainers offering two trades, Hospitality and Tourism L2, and Office Administration L1.
The NVTC was identified in 2013 to serve alongside the Valombola and Eenhana VTCs as part of the Training HUB Centre to pilot the development and advancement of TVET in the country with an enhanced speciality and levels of training.
The centre’s liaison officer Soniah Shitaleni said with the previous Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdown, an interim decision was made to not stop teaching and learning, but rather for the centre to use other alternatives to keep the trainees engaged.
“The centre was already in the process of using the moodle platform, although at a pilot level, where lessons could happen remotely to wherever our trainees were. However, post-pandemic, we saw an opportunity in vocational education in terms of online training. In 2021, we then introduced a programme called Blended Distance Learning, where trainees learn online through simulations and also attend contact lessons once a semester on our campus,” she noted.
The moodle platform is considered to be very interactive and easy to use. It has 80 Blended Distance Learning trainees, who are fully online. On a weekly basis, 296 full-time trainees make use of the online platforms for their tests, assignments and activities.
“All tests, assignments and activities are offered online. That includes lessons with the trainees. However, national examinations are administered at the centre, and the trainees have to travel to the centre for their examinations. All modules are loaded onto the portal and can be accessed anytime. Lesson sessions are also recorded and attendance is likewise registered online,” added Shitaleni.
The NVTC does face a few challenges, especially internet connections, with a few trainees being from disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford data, a smartphone or even a laptop to attend online lessons. Some trainees also have to walk or travel longer distances from villages to town, just to be able to access the moodle platform.
“Another challenge is the practical side of training, as not all trades have enough simulation activities for trainees to learn. And when they do, learning by doing is always much better than a simulation classroom,” said Shitaleni.