President Nangolo Mbumba said he is confident Team Namibia will bring the trophy home, as the team prepares to compete at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France.

Mbumba bid farewell to 14 competitors at their official send-off held at State House on Thursday.

The 47th WorldSkills Competition is scheduled to take place from 10 to 15 September.

“You are not just going to compete; you are going to represent Namibia with pride and excellence,” he said. 

The President emphasised the importance of the team’s conduct, urging them to be exemplary representatives of the country. 

“You are now going to be the ambassadors of Namibia when you are there. Make sure that you conduct yourself exemplary.  The support from the Namibian nation is unwavering, and we believe in your ability to make us proud,” added the Head of State.

The team will compete in various fields such as Automobile Technology, Bricklaying, Cooking, Electrical Installation, Fashion Technology, Joinery, Mechatronics, Plumbing and Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Wall and Floor Tiling, Web Technologies and Welding. 

Speaking to New Era, higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi said the competition will not only provide a platform for young professionals to demonstrate their skills, but will serve as a benchmark for the quality of vocational training in Namibia.

“The World Skills Competition is more than just a contest; it is a critical opportunity for Namibia to benchmark its vocational education and training (VET) systems against global standards,” she said.

She also highlighted the competition’s role in enhancing the quality of Namibia’s education system.

Kandjii-Murangi suggested that increasing participation from secondary schools is essential for the future of Namibia’s VET system. 

“We need to intensify efforts to popularise vocational subjects like Home Economics and Woodwork in our secondary schools,” she said. 

The minister emphasised that such subjects are integral to developing skills relevant to the competition.

 “Our secondary schools need to see the value in these programmes and encourage more students to pursue them,” she added.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) Eric Nenghwanya said the competition represents a significant investment in the future of Namibia’s young professionals.

 He revealed that about N$10 to N$15 million has been invested in ensuring that the team is well-prepared for the competition. 

“We have spared no expense in preparing our team. The equipment used in the competition must meet international specifications, and we have sourced many of these from countries like China, Brazil, Germany and South Africa,” he noted.

Nenghwanya said the team was chosen through a series of national competitions, where the most skilled individuals were identified and trained to compete on the international stage.

 “Our goal is to increase the number of participants in future competitions. This will depend on how well our young people perform in national competitions, and how we continue to enhance our training infrastructure,” the CEO said.

The competition also serves as a platform for Namibian youth to gain exposure and learn from their peers worldwide, he added. 

-ljason@nepc.com.na

Caption: Talent… Namibia’s 14 competitors will compete in the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France. 

Photo: Loide Jason