By: Loise Shiimi
The NEV TVET Hub, Nakayale VTC, Eenhana VTC, and Valombola VTC have graduated 610 graduates across 22 occupational areas in their joint 3rd graduation ceremony.
Together with Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, which graduated 305 last month, the country has produced almost 915 vocational technicians in 2025, excluding private graduates.
During her keynote address, Ohangwena Region Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa expressed her gratitude to the trainers, mentors, and staff at the three northern vocational training centres (VTCs) for their commitment to fostering a skilled and capable workforce.
“To the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), your leadership and strategic support have been instrumental in making this collaborative hub and many other initiatives a reality. You have all contributed to shaping a brighter future for Namibia,” she stated.
Hamutumwa underlined that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is not merely an alternative; it is a vital pillar of national development. She noted that TVET produces the artisans, technicians, innovators, and entrepreneurs who construct roads, wire homes, design machinery, and manufacture goods.
“These are the very hands and minds that drive Namibia’s productivity. The Government of Namibia recognises the importance of skills development, which is why TVET is a central component of our sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6),” she remarked.
Under NDP 6, a key priority is human capital development. Hamutumwa indicated that the most effective way to achieve this is through investment in relevant, quality, and responsive technical education. She also announced that NTA has initiated plans to upgrade selected VTCs to Technikon Colleges. This upgrade will allow vocational training students not only to obtain trade qualifications, but also to pursue higher-level diplomas and degrees in their chosen fields.
“This is a game-changer. It ensures that our youth are not limited in their potential and strengthens our regions’ capacity to cultivate home-grown expertise,” she noted.
Responding to concerns about employment opportunities for the over 900 graduates, she noted the importance of job creation in the various sectors the graduates tirelessly applied themselves to.
“Namibia needs its graduates not just as job seekers, but as job creators. The era when white-collar professions were the only path to success has long passed. The future belongs to blue-collar professionals: the plumbers, electricians, builders, metal fabricators, IT technicians, auto mechanics, and hospitality experts,” declared Hamutumwa.
She emphasised that the trades acquired build nations and form the foundation of a productive economy, calling for an appreciation of vocational training.
“Let us elevate it as a national treasure. I want to see more young Namibians pursuing careers as artisans, engineers, and technical specialists because in your hands lies the power to transform not only your lives, but also the destiny of our nation,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Sanet Steenkamp, Minister of Education, during the 18th graduation ceremony of the Windhoek VTC (WVTC) earlier this month, conveyed that TVET should not be viewed as a second option. Rather, it should be the first choice for those aspiring to change their lives and shape the future of their nation.
“TVET offers practical knowledge and skills, employment opportunities, and the technical expertise necessary for industrialisation, infrastructure development, and sustainable economic growth,” she stated.
She further explained that TVET plays a crucial role in addressing one of the most significant challenges facing youth: unemployment.
“By equipping young people with relevant, practical skills, we empower them to create opportunities for themselves and others while reducing reliance on traditional job markets.”
As Namibia ventures into emerging industries such as oil and gas, alongside green hydrogen, Steenkamp underscored the need for highly-skilled, innovative, adaptable, and technically proficient young people in these sectors.
“Our vocational training centres have a critical role to play in preparing our youth to seize opportunities in these industries, ensuring that Namibia is not merely a consumer of global trends, but a leader in shaping them,” she added
A total of 305 trainees successfully completed their training at WVTC, and 160 of them were awarded various National Certificates. These certificates cover a range of fields, including:
Civil Trades: Plumbing and Pipefitting, Joinery and Cabinetmaking, Bricklaying and Plastering.
Mechanical Trades: Welding, Boilermaking, Auto Mechanics, Fitter and Turner, Fitting Machinery, and Diesel Electric.
Electrical Trades: Electronics, General Electrical, and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Business
Services: Office Administration.
