Africa-Press – Namibia. I respond to the article which appeared in Namibian Sun newspaper on 20 April 2022, under the heading “Task Force Cooks up Rescue Plan -Tonic for business revival availed”.
In the said article, it is mentioned that President Hage Geingob constituted the Business Rescue Task Force (BRTF). It is further reported that the BRTF presented recommendations to the Head of State aimed at rescuing ailing businesses from collapsing.
My opinion is in response to the recommendation pertaining to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) levy, which is targeted by the BRTF. The VET Act, (Act No. 1 of 2008), is very clear pertaining to the levy in terms of contributions and the utilisation of the funds generated through levy collection.
It is absurd to note a recommendation from the BRTF that “The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) [should] consider a temporary suspension of VET levy contributions for affected businesses, as well as refunding a portion of VET levies actually paid by businesses to help with cashflow needs now as very little training is being conducted in any event”.
With the above recommendation, I am not sure as to whether the BRTF has done a through assessment of what is happening in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector. For sure, it is my conviction that they have not done a proper assessment of the TVET sector and what is currently happening in the TVET sector. To claim that very little training is taking place in the sector is an insult, not only to the TVET sector, but to the entire government of Namibia.
To put into perspective what is on the ground and that which is happening in the TVET sector, the TVET sector is currently accommodating over 34 000 trainees, and the number is expected to double over the next five years.
While we recognise that TVET programmes are more expensive compared to academic education, where will funding come from to cater for TVET programmes? While the levy is considered the main source for funding TVET programes and initiatives through the key priority funding window, such funds remain meagre.
The Harambee Prosperity Plan 1 (HPP1) called for the establishment of TVET Centres in all political regions of the country. In response to this pertinent call, the NTA adopted a TVET Transformation and Expansion Strategy aimed at programmatic and infrastructure expansion.
With the implementation of this strategy, we are seeing new TVET Centres being constructed in Keetmanshoop, and the upgrading of the Kai//ganab Youth Skills Centre into a formal TVET Centre. The expansion of the Gobabis VTC, construction of the Kunene VTC in Khorixas, construction of the Nkurenkuru VTC in Kavango West and the Omuthiya VTC in Oshikoto are all currently on hold due to a lack of funding. These are just to mention a few of the successes attained by the NTA during the last couple of years through the levy.
Once all the construction work of the above-stated institutions are completed in the next two to three years, they will have to become operational. The question is, “will government be able to fund the operational expenses of all the 14 TVET centres in this country?”
My response to this is a BIG no, because currently, the government subvention towards the TVET sector is just a drop in the ocean. Therefore, the TVET sector should explore alternative funding regimes to support the TVET sector, as provided for in the recently-approved TVET Policy of 2021.
Many governments worldwide and including Namibia are calling for a scaling-up in the funding of TVET programmes. This is true, because the TVET sector has over the years gained popularity as a catalyst to address high youth unemployment, reduce poverty and promote the socio-economic development of nations.
If Namibia is to attain the aspirations of Vision 2030 and beyond, which is to become an industrialised nation developed by its own people, then there is a compelling argument to invest in the TVET sector now, and not later.
Many industrialised nations have not become economic giants by default. They became economic powerhouses because of their significant investment in their TVET sectors. This was done regardless of the economic challenges they faced. For Namibia to become an economic powerhouse, we should emulate what other countries have done, such as Germany, China, Singapore, Korea, Rwanda and many others.
Funding TVET programmes should, therefore, not only be the responsibility of government. It should be a collective responsibility of all, including government, the private sector, civil society and parents.
Therefore, the recommendation advanced by the BRTF for the NTA to consider a temporary reprieve on the contribution of the VET levy to affected businesses is far-fetched, will have serious implications to the TVET sector, and should be rejected at all cost. Also, the VET Act of 2008 simply does not make provision for a temporary suspension of the contribution of the VET levy, and such a reprieve would require an amendment of the VET Act.
*Dr Raimo Ndapewa Naanda writes in his personal capacity as a TVET expert. Dr Naanda is a holder of a PhD in Curriculum Studies from the University of Stellenbosch.
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