The 3rd National Skills Competition in technical and vocational trades was officially opened last night by Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Ms Natalia Goagoses.
The National Skills Competition, also known as World Skills Namibia event, will be taking place at Ongwediva from 26 to 30 September, where 158 young artisans in 14 trades will be competing to secure a spot at the World Skills International in France next year.
The artisans have come from 11 of Namibia’s 14 regions where there are technical and vocational training institutions. Among them are three inmates from Namibia’s correctional facilities.
Goagoses, who was tasked with the responsibility to read the speech of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mrs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa who was supposed to be the keynote speaker but couldn’t make it to Ongwediva, stressed that technical and vocational education is as much important as any other type of education.
“I want to dispel the notion and negative stereotype that says that vocational and technical education is secondary to other forms of education,” Goagoses said. “It is not true”
Goagoses said that countries such as Singapore developed rapidly because of technical and vocational education. “Namibia is developing slowly because of that stereotype in society.”
In the speech of the Deputy Prime Minister Nandi-Ndaitwa emphasis was also put on the need for technical and vocational education to be elevated and “be made an excellent choice to our youth who are looking for a career path.”
The Fisheries Hall at Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre was filled with the competitors and experts in the trades, invited guests and dignitaries who included the Governor of Oshana Elia Irimari, Mayor of Ongwediva Taarah Shalyefu, and Namibia Broadcasting Corporation Director General Stanley Similo.
The event was being broadcast live on NBC TV.
In the photo: Higher Education deputy minister Natalia Goagoses. The 158 competitors are in the other image.
