Namibia to host WorldSkills Africa 2022
Namibia will host the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition from 28 March to 1 April next year. During the Skills Development in Africa meeting on 25 August 2019, which was held alongside WorldSkills Kazan 2019, WorldSkills Namibia received the majority of votes from members and partners to organise the competition.
Michelline Nawatises
The official announcement was made on 8 October at The Dome where the event takes place under the theme ‘Promoting Skills Development in the 21st Century for Sustainable Economic Growth and African Ownership’.
Speaking on the occasion, higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi said that hosting the event in partnership with the African Union not only aligns with the continent’s Agenda 2063, but also with Namibia’s national long-term strategic plant to leverage the potential of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. “By extension, it supports economic prosperity for the future generations.”
She added that Namibia recognises TVET as a crucial vehicle for social equity, inclusion and sustainable development, adding that competition will generate optimal brand exposure for partners in growing their reach in the most populous segment of the African continent – the youth.
“TVET underpins the aspiration of developing an industrialised economy and thus wealth creation. Partners’ involvement will serve as a demonstration of support and commitment to our continent’s development goals. Accordingly, government embraces the critical responsibility of providing strategic leadership and support to this sector, as well as investing in human and technical resources for this sector.”
Jerry Beukes, the project manager of TVET, read a statement on behalf of the ambassador of the European Union to Namibia, Sinikka Antila.
“This event is an important step towards the TVET sector as a major factor of socioeconomic development. A lot of work has been done and remains to be done, especially to change the dominant negative perception of technical and vocational careers and to improve career opportunities amongst young Namibians, especially girls.”
Participants will be competing in various skills areas in the following categories: construction and building technology; information and communication technology; creative arts and fashion, and more. Currently, 127 competitors and 113 experts from 13 countries have already registered. The registration process is ongoing and therefore the number is expected to grow as the date for the event nears.
Working with the African Union and WorldSkills Namibia, WorldSkills Africa 2020-2022 also includes a series of capacity-building workshops. These started in September 2020 to train 192 national experts (VET trainers/teachers from Africa) from 13 countries for 16 skills. Thirty-two WorldSkills International experts from 21 countries act as chief experts and deputy chief experts in the programme.
Namibia joined the WorldSkills family as an associate member in 2011 and upgraded to full member status in 2015. The country has been to every WorldSkills competition since 2011.
WorldSkills Namibia had sent competitors to three WorldSkills competitions: Four to WorldSkills São Paulo 2015; seven to WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017; and 11 to WorldSkills Kazan 2019.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) recently announced its support of this project, with a cash injection of €500 000.
PHOTOS: MICHELLINE NAWATISES
Photo 1: Delegates at the Dome where the official announcement was made that Namibia will host the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition. Photo Michelline Nawatises
Photo 2: Higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi. Photo Michelline Nawatises
Photo 3: Namibia will host the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition from 28 March to 1 April next year. Photo Elizabeth Joseph
The official announcement was made on 8 October at The Dome where the event takes place under the theme ‘Promoting Skills Development in the 21st Century for Sustainable Economic Growth and African Ownership’.
Speaking on the occasion, higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi said that hosting the event in partnership with the African Union not only aligns with the continent’s Agenda 2063, but also with Namibia’s national long-term strategic plant to leverage the potential of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. “By extension, it supports economic prosperity for the future generations.”
She added that Namibia recognises TVET as a crucial vehicle for social equity, inclusion and sustainable development, adding that competition will generate optimal brand exposure for partners in growing their reach in the most populous segment of the African continent – the youth.
“TVET underpins the aspiration of developing an industrialised economy and thus wealth creation. Partners’ involvement will serve as a demonstration of support and commitment to our continent’s development goals. Accordingly, government embraces the critical responsibility of providing strategic leadership and support to this sector, as well as investing in human and technical resources for this sector.”
Jerry Beukes, the project manager of TVET, read a statement on behalf of the ambassador of the European Union to Namibia, Sinikka Antila.
“This event is an important step towards the TVET sector as a major factor of socioeconomic development. A lot of work has been done and remains to be done, especially to change the dominant negative perception of technical and vocational careers and to improve career opportunities amongst young Namibians, especially girls.”
Participants will be competing in various skills areas in the following categories: construction and building technology; information and communication technology; creative arts and fashion, and more. Currently, 127 competitors and 113 experts from 13 countries have already registered. The registration process is ongoing and therefore the number is expected to grow as the date for the event nears.
Working with the African Union and WorldSkills Namibia, WorldSkills Africa 2020-2022 also includes a series of capacity-building workshops. These started in September 2020 to train 192 national experts (VET trainers/teachers from Africa) from 13 countries for 16 skills. Thirty-two WorldSkills International experts from 21 countries act as chief experts and deputy chief experts in the programme.
Namibia joined the WorldSkills family as an associate member in 2011 and upgraded to full member status in 2015. The country has been to every WorldSkills competition since 2011.
WorldSkills Namibia had sent competitors to three WorldSkills competitions: Four to WorldSkills São Paulo 2015; seven to WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017; and 11 to WorldSkills Kazan 2019.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) recently announced its support of this project, with a cash injection of €500 000.
PHOTOS: MICHELLINE NAWATISES
Photo 1: Delegates at the Dome where the official announcement was made that Namibia will host the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition. Photo Michelline Nawatises
Photo 2: Higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi. Photo Michelline Nawatises
Photo 3: Namibia will host the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition from 28 March to 1 April next year. Photo Elizabeth Joseph
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article