Windhoek – To select young Namibians who are going to represent the country at the next WorldSkills International (WSI) Competition, the Namibian Training Authority (NTA) will host the National Skills Competition Exposition in September.
Speaking at the launch of the competition recently, the acting chief executive officer of NTA, Jerry Beukes, said credible and accredited local and international technical and vocational training institutions are going to participate and share information about their institutions and the courses there are offering to young Namibians wishing to embark on career paths within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. “The competition is open to all public and private training institutions and industry sector,” he said.
Beukes added that while the scope of occupational skills areas is expected to increase at future competitions, only Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Plumbing and Heating, Wall and Floor Tiling, Bricklaying, Cooking, Joinery, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning and Welding occupational courses will be staged at the inaugural competition. “This is done to keep the inaugural competition manageable, to allow for meaningful evaluation and to inform the development of sustainable competition framework,” explained Beukes.
Although many young people do not give technical and vocational career any consideration, vocational education and training plays an important role in delivering both the skills needed for a modernised economy and just as important in furthering social inclusion and countering the disturbingly high levels of youth unemployment. “Therefore parents, guardians and teachers should start telling children that technical and vocational careers are equally rewarding, gratifying, worthwhile and meaningful to stop the society perception that stigmatising such career options as dirty, low paying and low-status,” stressed Beukes.
Those interested in taking part and training institution can register by getting the application form from the NTA website www.nta.com.na or upon request from the WorldSkills Namibia Secretariat at 061-2078580. The next WorldSkills International (WSI) Competition will be in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2017.