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New TVET hub inaugurated new infrastructure
HE Herbert Beck, (Ambassador of the German Embassy) on the right and, © GIZ
Last week, on 16 June 2022, the Namibian Government and its long-term development partners, the European Union & the Federal Republic of Germany, celebrated on the day of the African Child with the inauguration of new training facilities at the Northern Hub vocational training centres. The new facilities comprise of two hostel blocks, an Auto-Mechatronics workshop and an ICT & Electronics Workshop.
The facilities and equipment serve as a demonstration of the Namibia Training Authority’s commitment to the shared national agenda of robust and industry-driven domestic job creation; it also serves as a validation of the importance our Government assigns to the establishment of a vibrant local Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
Namibia’s highly segmented labour market and the many shades of employment, under-employment and unemployment, continue to hamper the economic development of the country.
Dr Itah Kandjii Murangi, Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, in a message, read on her behalf by Deputy Executive Director Dr Raimo Naanda, said it is well known that the successful operation of a modern economy is based on a significant majority of adult citizens earning the income they need to survive; through the work they do. It is those in the labour force who produce the goods and services which comprise the modern economy. These workers also generate the majority of taxable income that allows Governments to play their economic role, including providing income to those who do not work.
Therefore, not only is the expansion of the training facilities of the HUB VTCs an initiative to bring much-needed training services closer to the people of Namibia, it is a response to an ongoing national and strategic macro-economic endeavour to create employment opportunities for our people and to support our development and growth as a country, in a sustainable manner.
NTA Acting Chief Operations Officer Tobias Nambala said that the NTA will continue to implement more such projects aimed at expanding the TVET footprint to all parts of our country.
Other such projects have either commenced or are close to completion. We reassure the Namibian nation of our commitment to continue creating more quality training opportunities for young Namibians, who are attracted to TVET as a career path choice.
On behalf of the involved donors, Her Excellency, Ambassador Sinikka Antila, EU Ambassador to Namibia, and the German Ambassador, His Excellency Herbert Beck, commended the collective and coordinated effort to support the three VTCs. The NEV TVET Hub project was implemented by GIZ on behalf of the EU and German Government.
Ambassador Beck pointed out that vocational training has a significant role to play in the implementation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, which aims inter alia the industrialisation of Namibia.
Both highlighted their high regard for the projects as important steps in further enhancing parity of esteem for technical and vocational career options, especially amongst the youth.
The total multi-donor financial contribution of the EU and German government to the Northern Training Hub project, since 2016, amounts to 8.8 Million EUR (about N$148 million).
The project scope covered a wide array of activities, including capacity building among the trainers and a re-branding exercise which aimed at combating the negative image of TVET, while the following direct contributions were also made to infrastructure development and procurement of equipment:
NVTC ICT/Electrical - N$ 12 million for construction & N$ 10.8 Million for Procurement of Equipment (including ICT equipment):
NVTC Hostel blocks - N$11.4 million for construction
VVTC Auto-mechatronics - N$ 9.5 million for construction & N$ 3.5 Million for Procurement of Equipment (including ICT equipment)
EVTC Plumbing Workshop - N$ 2.2 million for construction & N$ 5.4 Million for Procurement of Equipment (including ICT equipment):
An additional amount of N$ 7.8 million was recently committed towards supporting ICT infrastructure & E-learning across the three centres.