Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp urged Namibians to stop viewing TVET as a last resort for students who fail to qualify for university.
Dr. Steenkamp was speaking at the Rundu Vocational Training Centre graduation recently.
"So what is the narrative that we want everyone to embrace? The narrative that technical and vocational training is of crucial importance to build our nation and therefore should be amongst the first choices that our school leavers should look into; therefore, I urge all TVET institutions to make sure that you reach the hearts and the understanding of our people to break down all the barriers, all the misconceptions, and all the negativity that has been allowed over the years to be attached to TVET. We will bury it right here; it will eradicate the thought that TVET is not good enough; it should stop right here."
Steenkamp said that the government has made a commitment to expand TVET access and enrolment from about twenty-four thousand trainees in 2024 to nearly 50,000 by 2030.
"We are committing to transforming technical and vocational education and training so that it meets the demands of a modern and industrialising economy."
Steenkamp further said the government covers a hundred per cent of fees for TVET trainees from registration to tuition.
"How do we go about backing young entrepreneurs? Through a national training fund for the TVET sector and support for business incubation so that graduates who want to build enterprises do not have to do so alone. We invest in those who teach by continuing to build the skills of our TVET trainers and managers; upskilling and reskilling are of crucial importance if we want to reach the trainees in our centres."
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka told the graduates that in a world where technology and society are changing rapidly, the ability to adapt or learn continuously as well as to lead with integrity will set them apart.
"As the Kavango East Region continues to pursue economic development and greater opportunities for our young people, we need skilled Namibians who are prepared not only to look for opportunities but also to create them. Graduates, take confidence from what you have achieved today."