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Directorates  

Head Office Directorates  

Directorate of Vocational Education & Training

1.        INTRODUCTION

This report describes the training activities of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training during the period under review namely, main achievements: mission statement, review of activities, achievements, problems and constraints, conclusion, and recommendations.  

2.         MAIN ACTIVITIES  AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The Vocational Training Centre Advisory Councils were established to oversee the training programmes and serve as local Boards for individual VTCs.  Membership to these councils was drawn from the local communities where the VTCs operate. The Permanent Secretary officially appoints the Council members.

 Vocational Trainees Loan and Insurance

Cabinet approved the granting of loans to registered trainees at the vocational training Centers throughto  the Ministry’s Students Financial Assistance Scheme. A total amount of N$3.6 million was budgeted for the purpose during 2005/06 financial year. The loan will cover toolkits required for some trades, protective clothes, textbooks, and job attachment allowance.  In addition all full time trainees who are registered at the government administered VTCs have been group insured for accident and life cover with the Alexander Forbes Namibia (pty) Ltd insurance company.  The amount insured for 1207 trainees was N$50,750.00. There was no personal accidents compensated.

Enrolment in Vocational Education and Training

The number of vocational trainees enrolled in technical trades and commercial courses at various levels and institutions within the government-run centres and private companies continue to increase exceptionally. The system is currently offering a three-year Programme, which leads to the award of National Vocational Certificate Level (iii).

 Vocational Training Centres Enrolments: 2005/06

Compared to the enrolment of 2004, the 2005 statistics reveal that there is an increase in the number of both female and male trainees enrolled in the commercial trades which indicates that government policy on gender balance is being implemented.

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Curriculum Development Programme

Sixty six curriculum modules, 66 unit standards and 22 training manuals for levels 1 to 3 were completed based on the Competency Based Education and Training curriculum (CBET) was developed to offer awards to apprenticeship training and institutional trainees as well as to private candidates. NTA facilitated Curriculum, Unit Standards and Training Manuals for both instructors and trainees for different trades: Automotive Mechanics, Bricklaying and Plastering, Boiler-making, Hospitality, Tour Guiding, Structural Carpentry, Cabinet making, Welding and Fabrication, Plumbing and PipeFitting, Secretariat and Administration.

Programme for the Visually Impaired

Four blind trainees were admitted at Valombola VTC in a three-year course on Office Administration and Business Management. N$500 000 was allocated for purchasing equipment and implementing such a pilot programme.

Structure of the Directorate

The VET Directorate reviewed its structure to accommodate the growing demand of instructors and non-teaching staff at the VTCs and the National Trade Testing Centre.  The Directorate structure has been approved with 180 posts filled of which 155 are vocational instructors. A few number of personnel were reduced at Head Office  in order to match with the demands at the VTCs. The VET Structure has been approved by the Public Service Commission and would be implemented during the next financial year.

Inspection and Implant Training

A total number of 657 registered apprenticeship contracts were recorded for the trades of Air conditioning/Refrigeration, auto-Electrician, Bricklaying/plastering, Fitter and Turner, Instrumentation Mechanic, Motor Mechanic, Joinery/Cabinet maker, Boilermaker, Earthmoving Equipment and Rigger.

Community Skills Development Centres (COSDEC)

VET oversees the training activities of COSDECs.  Some of the skills areas in the courses offered by COSDECs are:

Bricklaying and Plastering; Food Preparation; Needlework; Welding and Fabrication; Woodwork; Building Maintenance; Jam Making; Meat Processing; Entrepreneurship; Leather Tanning and Production; and, Basic Computer Literacy and Papermaking. The total enrolment at all COSDECs was 495 students and about 55 per cent of these were female.

A Summary of Achievements

·         Vocational Education and Training Policy has been approved and ready for implementation.

·         The Project Management Unit for the establishment of the Namibia Training Authority (PMU-NTA) has been successful in developing Competency Based Education and Training CBET materials in cooperation with industry and training establishments.

·         National Training Authority (NTA) has purchased former Rossing Foundation Building facilities in Khomasdal  under which NTA operates from.

·         Establishment of the Instructor Training Programmes by the Polytechnic Senate and implementation of the training Programme at the Polytechnic of Namibia.

3          PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS  

·         The development of the envisaged Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curricula is progressing at a low pace despite availability of funds to enable the implementation team to produce relevant materials.

·         The current budget allocation remained limited.

·         The Directorate experienced technical problems in implementing the two on-going projects namely Upgrading of NTTC and Eenhana VTC. This has seriously retarded the implementation of phase two (2) of the projects. The Directorate experiences irregularities by the Ministry of Works Transport and Communication (MWTC) in processing tender documents. This has resulted in either delay in implementing of the projects or the projects not being executed at all.  

4          ONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS  

·         Establish the National Training Authority and Supervision, Certification and Quality Control agencies as per Cabinet decision.

·         Establish regulations for the implementation of the training levy in accordance with the National Vocational Training Act, 1994 (Act no 18 of 1994).

·         There is a need for Proper supervision for CBET activities in order to implement CBET programmes at the VTCs.

·         There is a need to implement the VET structure to enable NTTC to recruit professional staff to administer testing and certification programmes.

·         Establish proper co-ordination between, National Planning Commission (NPC) and Work, Transport and Communication Ministry in the implementation of capital projects.

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