New Bill tabled for vocational training

GOVERNMENT is addressing the need for proper vocational training with a new bill tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The bill provides for the establishment of a national training authority and a national training fund. Companies will in future have to pay a training levy to the fund, which replaces the existing vocational training fund set up in 1994.The levy will support vocational training institutions.The money will be used to provide financial and technical assistance to employers, training providers, employees and trainees.”In addition, other improvements in terms of quantitative expansion of training places countrywide are likely so that many more young Namibians will gain access to relevant skills training,” said Deputy Education Minister Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who introduced the Bill.”During the past decades there has been a mismatch between the vocational training that was delivered by training providers and the requirements of the labour market.We identified one of the main reasons for this mismatch as inadequate consultation between training administrators and the business community.”The new bill would ensure partnership between the private and public sectors so that vocational and technical training was “relevant and responsive to the needs of the country,” the Deputy Minister stated.The envisaged Namibia Training Authority is to have strong control and supervision over the quality of training offered by employers and Government.Ndjoze-Ojo said the tourism and hospitality industry was in the forefront of vocational training since standards, curricula and training materials for that sector had been drawn up in close co-operation with the Namibia Tourism Board and the private sector.”These materials are highly relevant, have been well received and are gaining acclaim by other SADC countries.”The board of the Namibia Training Authority will consist of 11 members appointed by the Education Minister.Five members will be nominated by employers’ representatives serving on the Labour Advisory Board, two will be nominated by trade union representatives on the same Council and three will come from Government.A member of the Council of the Namibia Qualifications Authority will also serve on the new board.The Education Minister will appoint the chairperson and deputy chair from the 11 board members.Companies will in future have to pay a training levy to the fund, which replaces the existing vocational training fund set up in 1994.The levy will support vocational training institutions.The money will be used to provide financial and technical assistance to employers, training providers, employees and trainees.”In addition, other improvements in terms of quantitative expansion of training places countrywide are likely so that many more young Namibians will gain access to relevant skills training,” said Deputy Education Minister Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who introduced the Bill.”During the past decades there has been a mismatch between the vocational training that was delivered by training providers and the requirements of the labour market.We identified one of the main reasons for this mismatch as inadequate consultation between training administrators and the business community.”The new bill would ensure partnership between the private and public sectors so that vocational and technical training was “relevant and responsive to the needs of the country,” the Deputy Minister stated.The envisaged Namibia Training Authority is to have strong control and supervision over the quality of training offered by employers and Government.Ndjoze-Ojo said the tourism and hospitality industry was in the forefront of vocational training since standards, curricula and training materials for that sector had been drawn up in close co-operation with the Namibia Tourism Board and the private sector.”These materials are highly relevant, have been well received and are gaining acclaim by other SADC countries.”The board of the Namibia Training Authority will consist of 11 members appointed by the Education Minister.Five members will be nominated by employers’ representatives serving on the Labour Advisory Board, two will be nominated by trade union representatives on the same Council and three will come from Government.A member of the Council of the Namibia Qualifications Authority will also serve on the new board.The Education Minister will appoint the chairperson and deputy chair from the 11 board members.