TVET system set for transformation with new task force
The Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (MHETI) launched a task force dedicated to transforming state-owned Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) into specialised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
This initiative aims to bridge the existing qualification gap between Levels 4 and 6 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), aligning training programmes with the evolving demands of the labour market.
Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi emphasised the urgency of this transformation, highlighting that while Namibia's TVET system is well-established up to Level 3, there is a notable absence of qualifications at Levels 4 and 5.
This gap, often referred to as the "missing middle", restricts career progression for TVET graduates and limits their access to higher-skilled, better-paying job opportunities.
"There is a future in the region. There is a future globally. We cannot train only for today," Kanndjii-Murangi said.
The 14-member task force, chaired by Professor Francis Sifiso Nyathi of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), is entrusted with several critical responsibilities over the next seven months. These include assessing existing VTCs, developing a strategic plan for their transition into specialised TVET colleges, and designing curricula that meet industry standards and extend up to NQF Level 6.
Additionally, the task force will establish quality assurance mechanisms and create pathways for student progression into higher qualification levels.
NTA board chairperson Jerome Mutumba is optimistic about the initiative's potential impact.
He noted that by upgrading the qualifications framework and enhancing the quality of vocational training, Namibia can better equip its youth with the skills necessary to meet the country's industrial and technological needs.
“This transformation is expected to address structural unemployment and contribute to economic growth by producing a workforce proficient in advanced technical skills,” he said.
The task force's mandate also includes defining criteria for selecting suitable VTCs for transformation and ensuring that the new TVET colleges align with international standards.
“This alignment is crucial for the colleges to effectively respond to the country's labour market needs and to ensure that graduates possess competencies that are both nationally and globally relevant.”
This initiative aims to bridge the existing qualification gap between Levels 4 and 6 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), aligning training programmes with the evolving demands of the labour market.
Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi emphasised the urgency of this transformation, highlighting that while Namibia's TVET system is well-established up to Level 3, there is a notable absence of qualifications at Levels 4 and 5.
This gap, often referred to as the "missing middle", restricts career progression for TVET graduates and limits their access to higher-skilled, better-paying job opportunities.
"There is a future in the region. There is a future globally. We cannot train only for today," Kanndjii-Murangi said.
The 14-member task force, chaired by Professor Francis Sifiso Nyathi of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), is entrusted with several critical responsibilities over the next seven months. These include assessing existing VTCs, developing a strategic plan for their transition into specialised TVET colleges, and designing curricula that meet industry standards and extend up to NQF Level 6.
Additionally, the task force will establish quality assurance mechanisms and create pathways for student progression into higher qualification levels.
NTA board chairperson Jerome Mutumba is optimistic about the initiative's potential impact.
He noted that by upgrading the qualifications framework and enhancing the quality of vocational training, Namibia can better equip its youth with the skills necessary to meet the country's industrial and technological needs.
“This transformation is expected to address structural unemployment and contribute to economic growth by producing a workforce proficient in advanced technical skills,” he said.
The task force's mandate also includes defining criteria for selecting suitable VTCs for transformation and ensuring that the new TVET colleges align with international standards.
“This alignment is crucial for the colleges to effectively respond to the country's labour market needs and to ensure that graduates possess competencies that are both nationally and globally relevant.”
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