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.