‘Stay strong and committed to your trades’ – Kandji-Murangi

AS hundreds of vocational training students graduated at the Valombola and Eenhana vocational training centres (VTCs), the minister of higher education, training and innovation, Itah Kandji-Murangi, urged graduates to remain committed to their trades.

Kandji-Murangi was the official speaker at both graduation ceremonies, held on Monday at Ongwediva and on Tuesday at Eenhana.

“Vocational training is a top catalyst for development, so you need to pull up your sleeves and become job creators instead of just job seekers. Therefore, you need to stay strong and committed to your trades,” she said.

Kandji-Murangi said she is pleased that TVET programmes on offer at public VTCs are yielding a significant number of graduates, and that the sector holds a critical supply chain of the skills needed to drive productivity in the country’s economy.

“Our graduates are equipped with work-ready skills. Those not able to land employment, which has become even more challenging in the current economic climate, must strive and aspire towards self-employment.

“I emphasise this because in my humble opinion, graduates of technical and vocational education and training are better equipped to start their own businesses. Therefore, I am encouraging you that in the most difficult circumstances great things can still happen and success is possible,” said Kandji-Murangi.

Approximately 410 trainees graduated at the Eenhana VTC, 519 at the Ongwediva VTC, while a further 1 504 are expected to graduate at other VTCs across the country.

The graduates are trained is various fields such as bricklaying and plastering, office administration, joinery and cabinet making, plumbing and pipe fitting, welding and fabrication, solar installation, vehicle collision repair and spray painting.