Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said technical and vocational skills will play a crucial role in making Namibia an industrialised nation and a globally competitive country.
She stated that countries such as Germany, Singapore, China and Japan have prioritised TVET programmes in their education systems, some of which are economic powerhouses in the world.
“It is important that institutions of higher learning and TVET standardise and harmonise their curriculum so that the Namibian youth are allowed to upgrade from certificate levels to diplomas and degree levels,” stated Nandi-Ndaitwah during the TVET graduation ceremony at Rietfontein.
For this fifth graduation ceremony,127 graduates who completed their exit levels in the academic years 2021, 2022 and 2023 were awarded qualifications in Automotive Mechanic, Crop Production, Bricklaying and Plastering, Nature Conservation and Livestock Management, Clothing Production, Hospitality and Tourism, Medal Fabrication, Plumbing and Pipe-fitting, Hairdressing and Cosmetology, as well as Office Administration.
Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated that TVET is one of the key aspects that will ensure Namibia advances the skills acquisition for both trainers and trainees.
“The provision of articulation will enable TVET graduates to further their education within their own country, without having to travel outside this country for such studies,” she said.
NYS has since relocated its national service training to Henties Bay to pave the way for intergraded intakes of other trainees who have not undergone training in articulated TVET programmes.
Chairperson of the NYS board Emmerentia Leonard at the ceremony highlighted that the service the graduates will present to you shortly has received training in various TVET trades, enabling them to contribute to socio-economic growth.
“The institution has made significant progress towards its youth development objective, including the reaccreditation of almost all its TVET trades and the addition of two new level four courses, namely Farm Machinery and Farm Management,” she stated.
Governor of Otjozondjupa James Uerikua says he places a lot of emphasis on education and youth development because he believes these are some of the main drivers of economic growth and social development, particularly in Otjozondjupa region, where the youth face a variety of challenges, such as high youth unemployment, school dropout rates, poverty, educational inequality, teenage pregnancies and many others.
“Similarly, Namibia aspires to become a knowledge-based and industrialised economy by 2030. To do this, we need a population that is educated, trained and committed to using innovation to spur development,” stated Uerikua.
He said mobilising all the skills, talents and knowledge of the citizenry is also key in transforming the economy and achieving social development goals – and you, graduates of today, armed with fresh knowledge and skills, play a critical role in achieving the Namibian dream.
- psiririka@nepc.com.na