NTA dishes out millions to key training institutions
The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) on earlier this week signed service level agreements with 10 local training institutions at a cost of over N$36 million. The ten agreements fall in to two broad categories, and are to be implemented under the Vocational Education and Training Levy’s Key Priority Training Grant Funding Window.
Speaking at the signing of agreements, the CEO of NTA Mr Jerry Beaukes said, the first category involves approved intervention areas for funding as part of demand-led training interventions with seven local training institutions, totaling N$ 27,876,942.82. Altogether 901 trainees stand to benefit from these interventions.
“35% of all monies collected through this programme, to be invested in the development of skills and capacities in high-demand, in prioritized sectors of our economy,” he added.
It was detailed that the second category involves approved intervention areas for funding as part of support and capacity-building interventions with three local training institutions, totaling N$ 8,694,210. The institutions are DAPP Vocational Centre, Community Skills Development Foundation, COSDEF, and the Federation of the Visually Impaired which permit Continuity of the rehabilitation training for 45 visually impaired persons at the Federation’s Service Centre.
Beukes said that the services of the beneficiary training institutions were solicited through an open and transparent procurement process, through which accredited training providers were invited in October 2015, to submit proposals for training in occupations identified in high demand as listed in the NTA’s National Skills Development Plan for the Vocational Education and Training Sector. “These proposals were evaluated against strict technical criteria aimed at ensuring that trainees benefit from high-quality training services” he emphasized.
Also speaking at the signing of the Vet Levy key priority training and funding service level agreements, the chairperson of the fund, Mr Partrick Swartz said “going forward, the NTA will continue to explore new ways of collaborating with all the relevant stakeholders in the local Technical and Vocational Education sector, under the VET Levy programme, especially its industry and training institution stakeholders.” He further elaborated that the NTA will seek and collaborate with new industry and training institution stakeholders at regional and international level and in doing so, increase access to skills development, whilst increasing quality and outcomes.
Furthermore, Beukes in the culminating moments of his speech urged young and talented Namibians wishing to enter the Vocational Education and Training stream to enroll for the training opportunities that will result from these agreements. “Public perception that Vocational Education and Training is a low-status, low-paying career option fit only for academically less-gifted, is exactly just that – perception. On the contrary, Vocational Education and Training is a worthwhile option to pursue, because it empowers individuals with modern technical and vocational skills so desperately needed in the global economy,” he said.
