NTA to set up training hub
The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) through the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation will set up a training hub in northern Namibia with the support of donor partners such as the European Union (EU).
The ‘EU Training Hub’ will be established by September this year.
This was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the NTA, Jerry Beukes when the EU signed an agreement of N$130 million with GIZ Namibia, which will implement the project through the joint Namibian-German Promotion of Vocational Education and Training in Namibia (ProVET) project.
Three Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) - the Nakayale VTC in Outapi in the Omusati Region; Eenhana VTC at Eenhana in Ohangwena and the Valombola VTC at Ongwediva in Oshana Region – will make up this training hub.
Beukes said the provision of training in northern Namibia is “highly inadequate,” not only in terms of the number of training opportunities available but also in terms of the number of credible training institutions operating in what is the most densely populated part of Namibia.
He added that the situation is further exacerbated by limited diversity in the training courses currently on offer at these centres.
“This situation poses a big challenge for the NTA in living up to our mandate of ensuring accessible, equitable and quality vocational education and training opportunities. Our training market is too small. We need to provide more quality training opportunities and we must do so without delay,” Beukes said.
Through the training hub, NTA will support the development of more demand-driven training opportunities and improve employment and self-employment opportunities for vocational education and training graduates.
The NTA decided on the establishment of a training hub to support demand-driven training; to invest substantially in the diversification of course offering and to strengthen quality assurance and improvement processes at these and other centres.
On his part, the Country Director and General Representative of GIZ in Namibia Albert Engel noted that 15 new or revised qualifications along the Vocational Education and Training core processes will be implemented.
These qualifications include water and sanitation, solar installation and maintenance. Agricultural training courses will also be available for implementation at the hub if required, he added.
Training of trainers to assure the quality of private and public training providers who want to offer vocational training, will also be on offer.
NAMPA
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