420 trainees graduated at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) in Windhoek today (Friday).

Of the graduates, 36% are female and 64% are male.

The Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Raimo Naanda, appreciated the positive increase in the number of females taking up technical and vocational education and training courses.

The graduates were urged to work towards becoming self-employed, as this will reduce youth unemployment in the country.

44 trainees from the Karibib Gemstone Centre graduated in gemstone cutting and polishing.

For decades, foreigners would come to Namibia to buy raw gemstones, with the value addition taking place elsewhere.

This means the stones are bought for much lower prices and often come back at a higher cost.

Trainees from the marginalised communities sponsored by Palms for Life at the Tukurenu Community Skills Development Centre at Rundu are not happy with the treatment they receive from the sponsors.

The trainees, the majority of them from the Khwe community residing in the Bwabwata National Park, received training on vocational skills at various levels.

Palms for Life is a non-governmental organisation that solicits funds from donors for the empowerment of marginalised groups in Namibia.

Hundreds of trainees from the Tukurenu Community Skills Development Centre at Rundu staged a demonstration demanding payment of their residue funds.

Leading the demonstration was the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), whose members charged the Community Skills Development Federation with being insensitive to their plight.