South Korea helps local training sector

Namibia continues to be hampered by a scarcity of skilled labour, according to Jerry Beukes, acting chief executive Officer, Namibia Training Authority (NTA). He said this at a ceremony held at the NamWater Human Resource Development Centre outside Okahandja earlier this week.

At the event technical training equipment valued at approximately N$725,000 was handed over to the centre’s management. Beukes thanked Dr Jin Mi-Sug, Vice President, Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) for her organisation’s assistance under this unique and innovative project.
Beukes added that Namibia continues to face a big challenge in expanding access to technical and vocational skills training to increase employment opportunities. “It is a significant challenge, because all of this must be achieved, whilst ensuring that technical and vocational training remains equitable, relevant and of good quality,” emphasized Beukes.
Ester Akwaake, Chairperson, NamWater received the donations, which included lathes, mortising machines, electric sanders, spindle moulders, saws, drawing boards and wood planing equipment. It also includes the installation of a dust extraction system in the centre’s joinery workshop.
The donation forms part of the Namibian Chapter of the ‘Better Education for Africa’s Rise’ (BEAR) project, which is a joint initiative between the United Nations Scientific, Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Republic of Korea.
The overall objective is to identify, design and implement specific country objectives aimed at improving the responsiveness and relevance of local technical and vocational education systems to individual and labour market meeds.
To add to the project another South Korean organisation, the Global Institute For Transfer of Skills (GIFTS) supported Namibia’s maiden participation at the WorldSkills International competition, which took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from the 11 to 16 August.
Four competitors, Rakel Amutenya, (Bricklaying), Joseph Nakatumbe (Joinery) and Erkana Imene (Plumbing) attended a month long training session in South Korea prior to the competition. GIFT will further support NTA in organising and staging of Namibia’s first National Skills Competition which is to take place in 2016.