‘Vocational education can create jobs’

TJIPENANDJAMBI KUHANGATECHNICAL and vocational education is a way of creating jobs, particularly among the youth, Standard Bank’s head of marketing Magreth Mengo says.

Mengo, who was speaking at the launch of the 2019 national skills competition organised by the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) in Windhoek a fortnight ago, said research had shown that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is important for promoting economic development, expanding the employment size, as well as improving the quality of employment, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“This is especially important for a country like Namibia, which continues to export its natural resources in raw form, and yet it is faced with a very high level of youth unemployment,” she stated.

The country’s unemployment rate was estimated at 37,3% in 2017, up from 34% in 2016 and 28% recorded in 2014 by the Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS).

A large portion of the youth is still unemployed, with the figure predicted at 43,4%, according to a National Planning Commission report titled ‘Status of the Namibian Economy’.

Mengo observed that vocational education and training is a very important sub-component of the education system, but was neglected in the early years of independence, and is generally shunned by both parents and students alike.

“But it is important to highlight that no nation has ever developed without the backbone of a strong vocational education system. The most industrialised countries such as Germany, Japan, China, UK, USA and South Korea are well-known for their well-run vocational education and training systems,” she added.

NTA chief executive officer Jerry Beukes thanked the sponsors of the national skills competition, adding that their contributions would make the competition a success.

He said the competition will not only allow technical institutions and individuals to test their skills proficiency against that of their peers, but will also serve as a platform to select Namibia’s competitors for the next World Skills International (WSI) competition, slated for August this year in Kazan, Russia.

Meanwhile, the 2019 national skills competition will feature 12 occupational skills areas in automotive techn ology, bricklaying, carpentry, cooking, electrical installations, joinery, hairdressing, refrigeration and air-conditioning, plumbing, restaurant services, as well as wall and floor tiling.

This is an increase from 10 skills areas in past competitions, and has also resulted in an increase in competitors and experts from 117 in 2016 to 152 this year, and from 70 experts to 100 this year.

Additionally, 14 industry-sourced workshop coordinators, who will serve as technical advisers, will be deployed.

“This is a completely new development, and was not part of the skills competition before,” Beukes said, adding that too many Namibian pupils, parents and guardians do not give technical and vocational technical opportunities any attention.

This situation is exacerbated by societal perceptions that such career options are dirty, low-paying, of low status and do not offer any opportunities for personal growth and advancement.

“We wish, through this competition, to support young Namibians. The strategic policy rationale behind the continuous staging of the national world skills competition is clear. Young Namibians need to make decisions about their future careers in a well- informed and thought-through manner.

“The TVET mission is aimed at inspiring dynamic exchanges between attendees and exhibitors, and forms part of the ongoing ‘Live Your Passion’ campaign, which is a media campaign under which the NTA, in partnership with the European Union and industry stakeholders, advocates technically inclined young Namibians to consider and take up TVET careers,” Beukes said.

Standard Bank donated N$200 000 towards the hosting of the 2019 national skills competition, which will take place from 3 to 6 April at the Ramatex complex in Windhoek.

The competition received over N$9 million from about 10 sponsors, namely the European Union, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies, Ohlthaver & List Group, Coca-Cola, Afrox, Bank Windhoek, Tulipohamba, the Eenhana Vocational Training Centre and the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre.

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