Africa-Press – Namibia. Omaruru constituency councillor, Hendrina Gebhardt, has described the imminent opening of a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre in the constituency as a breakthrough for young people.
This, she said, is because they have long struggled to access post-school opportunities.
In a recent interview with Nampa, Gebhardt said the facility, expected to open in the coming weeks under a government mandate, forms part of a broader regional strategy to stimulate growth across all seven constituencies in the Erongo region.
“Omaruru was designated to open a VTC starting in 2025, and that measure under government has now become a reality. As a constituency councillor, I am very happy, because this is a turning point for our young people,” she said.
She noted that learners from areas such as Karibib and Daures often complete secondary schooling without viable pathways to further studies due to distance and limited resources.
“This is an opportunity mandated by NDP6 for our young people. Skills remain with you permanently; therefore, I call on the Omaruru community to register and take ownership of this institution,” she urged.
Gebhardt’s remarks follow Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe’s announcement that the conversion of the well-known ‘Yellow Building’ in Omaruru into a fully-fledged TVET institution forms part of the Council’s Strategic Plan for 2025–2031.
Speaking during a recent council meeting, Kanelombe said youth unemployment remains one of the key challenges facing the region and that the new council has prioritised the TVET project as a practical intervention.
“With the abundance of job opportunities in the mining, culinary, fishing and tourism sectors, this is the route we should undertake to reduce unemployment and spur economic opportunities for the youth,” he said.
According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), the Erongo region has a population of about 240 000 and continues to experience increased rural-urban migration.
The regional profile identifies Omaruru, Daures and Karibib as constituencies requiring targeted support to address poverty, unemployment and limited access to services.
The areas’ economic potential revolves around opportunities in small-scale mining, agriculture along the Omaruru River, tourism and emerging small and medium enterprises.
The establishment of the TVET centre is expected to complement these economic activities by equipping young people with practical skills aligned to regional industry demands.
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