Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Natalia /Goagoses said the belief that technical education is second to other education is not true as it is key to any country’s development.
/Goagoses during the official opening of the 3rd National Skills Competition which commenced at Ongwediva on Monday said all developed countries were developed by their skilled society, and “why Namibia is still underdeveloped is because we put technical education second.”
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) can be a powerful tool for supporting economic growth and development, both at the individual and community level, she stressed.
Speaking at the same occasion Namibia Training Authority (NTA) deputy chairperson Esther Hoveka stated that a total of 157 competitors are competing in 14 skills areas, aspiring to the prestigious title of Namibian champion.
The winners at the national skills competition are using the event to prepare for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 which will take place in France in September, with more than 30 local and continental training institutions and industry exhibitors participating in this year’s event, which promises to be a platform driven by interactivity, simulation, virtual reality and demonstration, she said.
“In terms of the Skills Conference, more than 300 delegates are expected to deliberate on a very apt and current theme of ‘youth development and empowerment’ and how best to generate opportunities to bridge the unemployment gap,” she said.
She further said that outside the competition, WorldSkills Namibia fosters cooperation and development between industry and training institutions, whereas it also promotes the benefits of and needs for skilled professionals through knowledge exchange and capacity building and infusing international quality into their local technical and vocational qualifications.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency