The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) aims to adopt strict intake criteria to curb the worsening dropout crisis of trainees in its apprenticeship program.

The NTA spent N$113 million on the program since its inception, however, from a pool of 772 trainees, only 104 graduates have managed to secure jobs in the last five years.

The NTA's Acting Chief Executive Officer, Muvatera Ndjoze-Siririka insists that the stigma around vocational training is partially to blame, as trainees often drop out to explore lucrative job offers instead of completing their programmes.

Namibia has officially sent off a team of competitors to the special edition of the World Skills competition, to be held in different European countries.

The 25-member team comprises eight competitors as well as expected and accompanying officials.

The World Skills Competition 2022 was supposed to have been held in Shanghai, China, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19.