By William Mbangula
Oshakati
The Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Tarah Shaanika says vocational education and training can play a very crucial role in the economic development of any country.
As a result, the successes of most developed economies are to a significant degree attributed to vocational education and training.
Shaanika noted that in such economies, government and other stakeholders put strong emphasis on vocational education and training in their skills development and growth strategies.
Workers who go through vocational education form the core of many businesses and their skills are critical to the survival of businesses.
The NCCI CEO was speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Valombola Vocational Training Centre at Ongwediva, where close to 75 students received certificates and diplomas in various fields which include auto mechanics, bricklaying and plastering, plumbing, pipe fitting, welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery and business practice.
Shaanika commended the Valombola Vocational Training Centre (VVTC) for its efforts in playing an important role in the development of skills in the Namibian economy and to create opportunities for young people to make meaningful contribution to the development of the country.
The graduation ceremony and others before it, he said, testifies to the commitment and dedication of the VVTC to skills development in Namibia.
Shaanika stressed the need for the educational system to groom and produce highly skilled, innovative, entrepreneurial and hard-working business people with the capacity to drive higher economic growth levels and make the economy globally competitive.
He said: “It is very unfortunate that with a population of only two million people, Namibia is characterised by high unemployment levels currently standing at a rate of well over 30%, high poverty, acute shortage of skills coupled with sluggish economic growth rate which has been standing at an average of 4,5 % over the past few years.
“I believe that the shortage of skills in our economy is one of the biggest obstacles for Namibia to expand and diversify the economy at a respectable rate and achieve higher levels of employment. It is therefore important to understand that the solution to slow economic growth and diversification, high unemployment and poverty lies in relevant education and training.”
The graduation ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba and also addressed by the Councillor of Ondangwa, Ismael Uugwanga, on behalf of the Governor of Oshana Clemens Kashuupulwa.