Keetmanshoop VTC opens doors to 139 students

Vocational Training Centres play a crucial role in tackling unemployment by equipping learners with marketable skills that lead directly to employment or self-employment.
David van Schalkwyk
  • 9 Hours Ago

Namibia’s youth unemployment rate has reached 44.4%, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s 2023 Census Report released in January 2025 - a figure that continues to place pressure on government and communities to find practical solutions.

One such response is the newly opened Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), which has welcomed its first intake of 139 students.

Vocational Training Centres are seen as a key tool in addressing unemployment by equipping young people with hands-on skills that can lead directly to employment or self-employment. Unlike traditional academic institutions, KVTC focuses on practical, industry-based training aimed at meeting real workplace needs.

Speaking at the official launch, //Kharas Governor Dawid Gertze described the centre as a critical development for the southern region.

“The //Kharas Region has struggled for many years with high youth unemployment and the steady migration of young people to Windhoek in search of better opportunities. The KVTC is a strategic intervention which I believe will assist us in addressing both these challenges,” he said.

Gertze noted that the centre’s programmes are aligned with industry demands, particularly in sectors such as energy and construction. He expressed hope that more young people from the region would secure employment in specialised fields including coded welding, wind turbine maintenance and instrumentation.

The centre offers Namibia Training Authority (NTA)-accredited courses in plumbing, general electrical work, bricklaying and plastering, carpentry and joinery, automotive mechanics, welding, hairdressing and beauty therapy, fashion and design, and baking technology.

KVTC centre manager Benedictus Diergaard emphasised the importance of vocational education in driving economic growth.

“Vocational training is not a second option; it is a strategic economic pathway. Skilled artisans, technicians and entrepreneurs are essential to regional development and private sector growth,” he said.

Priority admission is being given to learners from the southern regions. The centre is expected to provide new opportunities for young Namibians seeking sustainable livelihoods and a chance to contribute to the country’s economic future.