The City of Windhoek is engaged in negotiations regarding the establishment of a new vocational training centre.
The centre, planned by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin (IHK Berlin), is aimed at tackling youth unemployment and improving educational outcomes in Namibia as well as relieving the lack of qualified workers experienced by Germany.
IHK Berlin president Sebastian Stietzel told a German news agency that novel approaches are necessary to close the growing labour force gap.
Initially, the school will focus on business services and the hospitality industry as well as industrial mechanics and trades and crafts.
Students at the centre will be tested according to German standards and will also be taught German, according to the IHK Berlin.
“Lengthy recognition procedures are, therefore, no longer necessary and the trainees can move from Windhoek to Berlin immediately after passing their exams and be integrated into the local labor market,” it says.
The chamber also says a brain drain, meaning the widespread emigration of well-trained workers, will be avoided as they don’t expect all trainees to be willing to come to Berlin immediately.
The project is planned by the IHK and the City of Windhoek. It is supported by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade as well as the Berlin senate, which is the government of the state of Berlin.
A corresponding agreement is to be signed in Windhoek in November.
Windhoek and Berlin have been partner cities since 2000.
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