Expansion of access to TVET must be cost-effective: Shiimi

WINDHOEK, 20 SEP – The expansion of access to technical vocational education and training (TVET) should be done in a cost-effective manner, because Namibia can no longer afford to put more money into education without compromising allocating funds in other critical sectors.
These critical sectors include energy, water, tourism and housing and are critical for economic growth and employment creation.
This was said by the Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Ipumbu Shiimi at the central bank’s 19th annual symposium on Thursday.
He explained that Namibia currently needs energy as the country imports this from South Africa, and needs to invest in water as it experiences drought as well as invest in tourism as it was identified as a sector that will create employment.
“If we cannot create industries, we will not be able to employ those that are training, because we need to generate efficiencies so that we can put more money into vocational training,” he said.
Shiimi continued that it may also be critical to assess the cost-effectiveness of establishing vocational training centres (VTCs) in all regions of Namibia as opposed to expanding the size and the quality of existing VTCs.
This may help the country to improve access and quality to TVET programmes at a lesser cost.
He explained that Namibia already spends twice as much on education compared to her peers in the region and other upper middle-income countries, but the results and outcomes are not necessarily better, and are in some cases worse.
The expansion of access to TVET is part of the current strategic plan of the Namibia Training Authority.
With the unemployment rate standing at 43 per cent in Namibia, the BoN governor further suggested that those that leave the TVET training be equipped with entrepreneurial and business management skills in order to employ others when they complete their training.
“So that when they leave, they have foundation skills that will equip them to be able to run successful businesses and employ others, because we need more entrepreneurs who are going to employ others,” he stressed.
The symposium was held under the theme ‘Creating Employment through Technical Vocational Education and Training in Namibia’. – NAMPA