OMUTHIYA: The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) Oshikoto regional director, Alleta Eises has encouraged learners to enrol at Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) to gain practical skills and be self employed.
Eises was speaking at the Omuthiya Vocational Training Centre (OMVTC) fundraising gala dinner held on Saturday at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region, where she stressed that vocational training is the future compared to conventional education as it prepares students to create jobs for themselves.
“In Namibia, after graduation, thousands of students cannot be employed because they are graduates from conventional education and we need VTCs to prepare learners to create employment for themselves,” said Eises.
She noted some graduates from conventional education, have marched to the Prime Minister’s office for employment, saying VTC graduates will always create their own employment and employ others as well.
She said in this millennium, vocational training will stand the test of time as it provides practical skills to learners.
“Vocational Training does not prepare students to look for jobs but it trains them to be masters of their craft,” said Eises.
She said she has observed that thousands of the students cannot be employed because they go for white collar jobs which are already occupied, neglecting and undermining VTC.
OMVTC has currently 70 students and has raised a total of N.dollar 79 325 from the gala dinner to purchase workshop equipment and land.
Its chairperson Mocks Shivute said they established the centre in 2022 and offer vocational training programmes such as auto mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, hospitality and tourism and office administration.
Meanwhile, Shivute Buildware and Hardware Supplies sales associate, Patience Majova pledged automotive mechanics, welding and metal fabrication tools worth N.dollars 45 500 to the institution as an investment that would curb unemployment in the country through increased vocational education institutions support.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency