Concern mounts over number of unemployed youth at towns

KEETMANSHOOP – Many town councils, already staggering under the strain of massive unemployment and abject poverty, are anticipating an increase in the number of unemployed youth as the year nears its end.

With the external end-of-the-year examinations for Grade 10 and 12 pupils fast approaching, it is all but inevitable that the number of unemployed young people at most towns will rise unless new job opportunities are created. The impoverished southern town of Keetmanshoop, which already has massive unemployment figures, is no exception.As a result, a group of concerned stakeholders at the town held a one-day meeting here to discuss the situation and how to best tackle it.Speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting, National Assembly member David Boois said the majority of unemployed youth were Grade 10 failures closely followed by Grade 12 pupils unable to enter institutions of higher learning.”We anxiously await the number of pupils who will pour out into the shuffle with no skills acquired for gainful employment,” Boois said.He said a platform needed to be created to provide unemployed youth at the town with the opportunity of becoming useful citizens.”This can be achieved through revitalising our communities.The participation by the people themselves in efforts to improve their level of living, with such relevance as possible, on their own initiative and to the provision of technical and other services in ways which encourage initiative, self-help and mutual help can make each venture effective,” the Member of Parliament emphasised.He proposed that a trust should be established at the town that would, among others, provide bursaries for further education, promote small and medium enterprise development, initiate community projects and assist existing local projects.The meeting was attended by the Governor, Stephanus Goliath, all seven Keetmanshoop local councillors, regional councillors as well as representatives from non-governmental and community-based organisations.- NampaThe impoverished southern town of Keetmanshoop, which already has massive unemployment figures, is no exception.As a result, a group of concerned stakeholders at the town held a one-day meeting here to discuss the situation and how to best tackle it.Speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting, National Assembly member David Boois said the majority of unemployed youth were Grade 10 failures closely followed by Grade 12 pupils unable to enter institutions of higher learning.”We anxiously await the number of pupils who will pour out into the shuffle with no skills acquired for gainful employment,” Boois said.He said a platform needed to be created to provide unemployed youth at the town with the opportunity of becoming useful citizens.”This can be achieved through revitalising our communities.The participation by the people themselves in efforts to improve their level of living, with such relevance as possible, on their own initiative and to the provision of technical and other services in ways which encourage initiative, self-help and mutual help can make each venture effective,” the Member of Parliament emphasised.He proposed that a trust should be established at the town that would, among others, provide bursaries for further education, promote small and medium enterprise development, initiate community projects and assist existing local projects.The meeting was attended by the Governor, Stephanus Goliath, all seven Keetmanshoop local councillors, regional councillors as well as representatives from non-governmental and community-based organisations.- Nampa