By: Erastus Andreas
Namibia’s vocational training system must do more than prepare young people for employment. It should equip them to build businesses, create jobs and contribute directly to economic growth, says Member of Parliament Willem Amutenya.
Speaking at the Eenhana VTC Entrepreneurship and Innovation Challenge, Amutenya called for stronger links between vocational training and economic opportunities.
Saying young people should be encouraged to turn their technical skills into income-generating businesses.
He said graduates should leave training institutions with more than certificates, but with business ideas, products, markets and the ability to access finance.
Amutenya urged young people to identify problems in their communities and develop solutions that can become viable enterprises.
According to the lawmaker, training institutions should align their programmes with industry demand to ensure that young people are equipped with skills needed in growing sectors of the economy.
He also highlighted the National Youth Development Fund as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs and emerging businesses to access financing and expand their operations.
Amutenya said TVET workshops could also become production centres, enabling young people to manufacture products that Namibia currently imports. Such production, he argued, could strengthen local businesses, increase value addition and create employment.
Amutenya said the country should “train for demand, enrol for opportunity and graduate for the economy.”
Speaking to Eagle FM, TVET graduate turned entrepreneur Paul Mwatale said his experience showed that technical skills can be transformed into a source of income rather than being used only to seek formal employment.
Mwatale said young entrepreneurs can identify demand within their communities, provide services and gradually grow their businesses.
He identified access to finance, finding customers and business management as some of the main challenges limiting young enterprises.
Also speaking to Eagle FM, TVET graduate Kaarina Kateta said practical skills can provide young people with an entry point into the economy through self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Kateta said graduates need support beyond technical training, particularly access to finance, mentorship, markets and business knowledge.
The discussions highlight the potential of TVET to contribute to economic upliftment by creating businesses, increasing local production and keeping more income within communities.
Skills mismatch has been identified as one of the main causes of unemployment.
The current challenge is ensuring that skills acquired in training centres and higher learning institutions are in line with the labour market and translate into productive enterprises and decent jobs.
