The Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation says it is transforming state-owned vocational training centres into specialised TVET colleges to bridge the skills gap between levels 4 and 6 and improve job prospects for TVET graduates.
Speaking at the launch of a Project Task Force to spearhead the transformation, Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Itah Kandjii-Murangi said the initiative aims to address the growing need for higher-level technical skills that align with the demands of Namibia’s evolving labour market.
“Now, while good practice exists at some State-owned Vocational Training Centres, who have started to offer training at levels above Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework, and while there is evidence of a growing demand for qualifications at Level 4 and 5, our TVET system has been slow to respond as effectively as it could to match supply with demand,” she said.
She added that the Task Force, chaired by Francis Sifiso Nyathi and Loide Shaanika as the vice chair, will assess existing VTCs, develop a strategic plan for the transition to specialised colleges, and design industry-relevant curricula over the next seven months.
Additionally, the group will work on ensuring quality assurance mechanisms and creating pathways for student progression into higher qualification levels.
“We need to address this challenge, and as a first step, we have developed terms through which to direct and guide a Project Taskforce, consisting of renowned TVET, labour market, industry and research experts, to develop an appropriate model for the establishment of specialised TVET Colleges in Namibia,” she said.
The Task Force’s work will be guided by input from key stakeholders including educators, students, industry representatives, and government officials.
They will develop a comprehensive strategic plan and establish a monitoring framework to evaluate progress and impact.
“Finally, it is expected of the Task Force to develop a framework for monitoring our progress and evaluating the impact of the reforms they recommend, allowing for adjustments as needed, based on feedback and outcomes,” she said.
