Technical and vocational training is commonly defined as training that emphasises skills and knowledge required for a particular job function, or a trade. Basically, it is training that prepares you for the day-to-day duties you will be performing ins a specific trade, craft, profession, or role. It equips you with reals skills, as opposed to learning theoretical knowledge, only.

We live in a society that places a high value on professional jobs. Not everyone is academically-inclined though. On the contrary, if you enjoy working with your hands more; then chances are that you are much better suited to take up a technical or vocational career path. Many young Namibians are excelling in and growing in a wide range of exciting, rewarding and dynamic vocational and technical career options, on offer. Employment, and self-employment opportunities are aplenty. If your are more technically- inclined and passionate about working with your hands, then you might be better suited for a technical or vocational career.

Formal training opportunities are available at public and private training institutions across Namibia. The biggest institutions are the Government-owned Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), whereas a good number of privately-managed institutions also offer training. It is important to establish the credibility and status of an institution, before enrolling. Institutions registered by the NTA, and/or accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority are credible institutions. Visit our Registration Portal to access the full list of NTA- registered institutions.

Enrolling at a registered or accredited institution is very important, because you are assured of high quality training towards acquiring a national qualification that is recognised by prospective employers. Acquiring such a qualification, that is recognised, sets you on a path to later acquire higher qualifications in a specific trade or occupational area. Avoid institutions that are not registered or accredited, because the qualifications they offer may not be recognised by employers and/or other training institutions, should you later opt to pursue further training. There are many unscrupulous training institutions operating in our training market. Be on the lookout! Or you might end up wasting your time and money on acquiring a qualification that is of no value.

Because technical and vocational training is often needed to enter a trade profession, such as welding or electrical engineering, apprenticeships are often used to provide this kind of training. An apprenticeship is basically an opportunity for you to learn a trade by working alongside a skilled professional in an actual work environment. Apprenticeship can lead towards acquiring the same trade or occupational qualification that an individual in full-time training at a registered or accredited institution may acquire. The benefit is that you acquire actual on-the-job experience and practical exposure, while doing so.

Many of the skills our country needs to realise its national development objectives, fall with the technical and vocational skills remit. Technical and vocational skills, especially in the electronics, telecommunications, innovation and manufacturing sectors, are also critical in the 4th Industrial Revolution, which has dawned upon us. Another key aspect to consider is that it is much easier for a technical and vocational graduate to employ him/herself as soon as they graduate, than it is for tertiary graduates from college or university. Many technical and vocational graduates take this route, starting out with small ventures, which they grow into bigger enterprises over time. They are able to do so because training in the area of ‘Entrepreneurship’ makes up a key component of the local technical and vocational training curriculum. Many such graduates are employers today. They are job creators, not job seekers.