By: Nghiinomenwa Erastus
The Bank of Namibia has offered to pay stipends for vocational graduates to get an apprenticeship at various corporate institutions.
The bank revealed in an update how its apprenticeship programme is progressing- the programme is being administered by National Training Authority (NTA).
The bank indicated that 50 apprentices were sponsored, with employers being Gondwana for tour guides, Agribusdev for Agri and Pupkewitz for auto mechanics.
The central bank revealed that offering remuneration to the apprentices on behalf of the training companies has motivated employers to participate in the programme.
This is because companies are not incurring an extra burden to their cost structure, explained the central bank.
The central bank has indicated that it has committed N$4,5 million to the programme for three years.
The programme is mostly targeting vocational and technical trainees/students.
Gondwana-Collection took up 16 apprenticeships, mainly from the Namibia Academy for Tourism and Hospitality.
The company spread the trainees among its collection of tourism-related establishments around the country.
One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Fillemon Awene, explained that they were exposed to various communities’ different cultures and traditions.
Moreover, to wildlife and vegetations which will come in hand for them as guides or participants in the tourism sector.
He added that they also accumulated much in terms of knowledge from veteran tour guides and appreciate the country’s natural treasures.
Another participant, Davis Kwenani, who was hired by Gondwana when he finished his assessment, has indicated the importance of the apprenticeship and accessing the job market.
Out of the sponsored apprentices, 20 with majors in crop production, horticulture, husbandry, and machinery were taken by Agribusdev, while 10 that are doing automotive mechanics were placed at Pupkewitz Motors division.
The central bank explained that it considers Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) an enabler of economic growth through skill development and employment creation.
The bank dedicated its 2018 symposium to the TVET sector in 2018- which highlighted several shortcomings in the industry, hindering it from realising the economic potential it possesses.
The symposium identified a need for relevance and responsiveness of training programmes as a critical undertaking.
However, they require concerted efforts from policymakers, regulatory bodies, training institutions, and the private sector to equip the next generation of artisans as a prerequisite for the country’s industrialisation aspirations. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
