The Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi says Technical and Vocational Education and Training have the potential to lower unemployment and alleviate poverty.

The minister says attempts to improve challenges faced by TVET programmes may dwindle should the perception held by youth, parents and community not meaningfully change. 

Kandjii Murangi's sentiments are contained in the Final Report for the second WorldSkills Africa competition which was held in Swakopmund last year.

Namibia hosted the second Worldskills competition last year.

The aim of the competition was to break the perception that TVET should be the last option, instead, it should be chosen and interesting for youth, particularly those fresh out of school.

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi says the promotion of TVET programmes is vital as it enhances the field and makes it more attractive.

She further noted that Namibia's successful hosting of the Global Skills completion will further generate interest and traction in the country's journey to empower the youth not only from Namibia but Africa.

Governor of the hosting region, Neville Andre in the report says that the Skills competition has enabled the region to appreciate the importance of TVET as it produces a skilled and competent workforce which is so desperately needed for economic and industrial development.

Andre emphasized that an agile and industry-relevant TVET sector is of importance for enhanced productivity and it, therefore, calls for collective reform.

More than 70 participants from across Africa descended to the coastal town of Swakopmund last year to take part in a TVET skills competition.

The aim was to exhibit personal success, but more importantly to showcase how important technical skills are in achieving economic growth.