Vice-President Lucia Witbooi says vocational training is vital for any country to obtain sustainable socioeconomic, technological and cultural advancement.

She said without a strong and responsive vocational education and training system, countries will struggle to achieve most of their set targets. 

She said this during the National Institute for Education (NIED) graduation ceremony in the capital.

Speaking during NIED's graduation ceremony, Witbooi says vocational training prepares learners for the job market, promotes independence, and creates opportunities.

She encouraged the graduates to maintain discipline and honesty.

"No country can obtain sustainable social, economic, technological and cultural advancement without a strong and responsive vocational education and training system. And at its core, this programme seeks to improve the standards of living and educational outcomes for learners with special educational needs and disappointments by preparing them for economic independence, self-articulation and meaningful participation in society and the world of work. This initiative has become a beacon of hope for learners who may have found traditional academic pathways challenging.

The students received certificates in basic pre-vocational skills, a programme aimed at preparing learners with special educational needs and disabilities to qualify as assistants in selected trades and occupational fields, while also enabling them to transition into further vocational education and training programmes.

The graduation follows a curriculum review for special education conducted by the Ministry of Education through NIED to enhance responsiveness to the diverse needs of learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

Graduates Laura Peres and Armand Swartz had this to say.

"The journey was kind of challenging at times, but we pushed through. Workloads a lot, trying to juggle school, and also our institution requires us to do an internship. So it's kind of challenging, but we always pushed through."

"So what I can tell you about my journey is that it wasn't easy. We had our ups and downs, and we had our struggles. But through it all we found the light, and we finished our journey."