Keetmanshoop: Vice President (VP) Lucia Witbooi has said the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector is aiming to increase the proportion of graduates with industry-aligned skills to 70 per cent by 2030. Witbooi made the remarks on Thursday during the official inauguration of the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in the ||Kharas Region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the VP stated that the current alignment of graduate skills with industry needs stands at 65 per cent, noting that the transformation of the sector remains a national priority under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). "The inauguration of this centre is a clear testimony to our government's unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Namibian, especially the youth, have access to quality vocational training," Witbooi said.

The facility is the 12th government VTC established in the country. It is intended to provide practical competencies required for emerging sectors, including green hydrogen, oil and gas, and modern agriculture. Witbooi indicated that the centre is strategically positioned to support the development of local skills for regional projects. These include the planned 2,000 hectares of irrigation at the Neckartal Dam.

"This state-of-the-art facility ultimately belongs to the people of Namibia," she stressed, adding that the institution must supply the economy with the expertise required to advance national macro-economic objectives. Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, provided a project overview during the ceremony.

The event also included a trainee message from Marlon Binga and a statement by ||Kharas Governor Dawid Gertze. The proceedings concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a tour of the facility's workshops. Witbooi urged local and national industry partners to collaborate with the centre to ensure skills excellence.