VTCs should innovate
The governor of the Omusati Region, Erginus Endjala has called on vocational training centres not to imitate one another instead they should focus on providing creative and different courses which will equip the youth with skills that can benefit their particular region.
Endjala made the remark at the commissioning of the Nakayale Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) advisory board members in Outapi.
“Most vocational training centres offer the same courses and here I make reference to bricklaying and plumbing which are offered at almost every centre. It is not wrong to train people in those fields but training centres should provide skilled people who will play a role in developing a town or a region,” he said.
“In some town you will not find a person who is able to drive a grader for the town council,” Endjala added, justifying his argument that something needs to be done in order for training centres to equip trainees with skills fit for their communities'' development.
He said that in order for Namibia to become industrialised and achieve Vision 2030 people need to be skilled, adding that countries that have made it did not solely concentrate on academic excellence but skills development.
“Industries are built with skilled personnel… we can only industrialise this country if we have skilled people who are innovative,” he said.
“It is our obligation and duty to educate the youth to understand that the world economy of the day is a brain-based economy. Therefore, there is a need for us to train our youth to enable them to actively participate in the economic development of the country,” Endjala added. The governor also pointed out that there are a number of people in the country who obtained qualifications from tertiary institutions but they also form part of the unemployment pool.
“I am not saying people should not go to universities but in reality we see how people with Ph.Ds beg for work from those that went through vocational training centres,” he said.
Endjala said only 13% of Grade 12 students in the Omusati Region made it to tertiary education level this year adding said that those it is a worrisome figure because not all of those learners that failed will be able to upgrade their points at institutions, thus vocational training centres play a big role in the society.
He also encouraged more vocational training centres to be established in the region. The NVTC is a training centre established in 2011 which offers courses of Electrical General, Hospitality and Tourism as well as Office Administration.
Currently the centre has 300 trainees. Endjala urged the advisory board to closely work with the people of Omusati Region and listen to their needs regarding the training courses which should be offered at NVTC.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Endjala made the remark at the commissioning of the Nakayale Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) advisory board members in Outapi.
“Most vocational training centres offer the same courses and here I make reference to bricklaying and plumbing which are offered at almost every centre. It is not wrong to train people in those fields but training centres should provide skilled people who will play a role in developing a town or a region,” he said.
“In some town you will not find a person who is able to drive a grader for the town council,” Endjala added, justifying his argument that something needs to be done in order for training centres to equip trainees with skills fit for their communities'' development.
He said that in order for Namibia to become industrialised and achieve Vision 2030 people need to be skilled, adding that countries that have made it did not solely concentrate on academic excellence but skills development.
“Industries are built with skilled personnel… we can only industrialise this country if we have skilled people who are innovative,” he said.
“It is our obligation and duty to educate the youth to understand that the world economy of the day is a brain-based economy. Therefore, there is a need for us to train our youth to enable them to actively participate in the economic development of the country,” Endjala added. The governor also pointed out that there are a number of people in the country who obtained qualifications from tertiary institutions but they also form part of the unemployment pool.
“I am not saying people should not go to universities but in reality we see how people with Ph.Ds beg for work from those that went through vocational training centres,” he said.
Endjala said only 13% of Grade 12 students in the Omusati Region made it to tertiary education level this year adding said that those it is a worrisome figure because not all of those learners that failed will be able to upgrade their points at institutions, thus vocational training centres play a big role in the society.
He also encouraged more vocational training centres to be established in the region. The NVTC is a training centre established in 2011 which offers courses of Electrical General, Hospitality and Tourism as well as Office Administration.
Currently the centre has 300 trainees. Endjala urged the advisory board to closely work with the people of Omusati Region and listen to their needs regarding the training courses which should be offered at NVTC.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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