Skills gap needs to be closed: Letseka

WINDHOEK, 23 AUG – There is a need to close the gap between skills acquired through institutions of higher learning and the demands required by the labour market.
This was said by Professor Moeketsi Letseka of the University of South Africa (Unisa) during the 17th graduation ceremony of the Namibian College of Open Learning here on Thursday.
He said it feels like institutions are failing at giving students the needed skills as many graduates are still unemployed.
Letseka thus called on such institutions to priorities skills needed in the labour market and for the private sector to help young graduates with entrepreneurial skills, as a way of ploughing back into the society.
At the same ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp encouraged students to grab any opportunity that comes their way.
“Do not wait to get the job that you studied for, changes of career are possible in this economic hardship we are in as a country,” she said.
A total of 776 students graduated and received qualifications in the fields of education and development, early childhood development, local government studies and community based work with children and youth, amongst others.
The graduation took place under the theme ‘Empowering youth with employability skills through open and distance learning.’ – NAMPA