Education sector important to end unemployment

Shona Ngava

Namibia’s teaching system is pivotal for ending unemployment

Namibia’s education system is resourceful and has the potential of reducing the high unemployment rate of the youth in the country. This was said by an economist, Mally Likukela at a panel discussion organised by the Namibia Economic Development Alignment (Neda) organisation.

Likukela argued that the government invested a lot of money into the education system ensuring that people were well educated and skilled. “Our education system is training us to be people who are productive. Our education is and should be designed in such a way that it makes us resourceful,” he shares

The theme of the panel discussion was “Unemployment and Job Market Conference”. A young business consultant Esther Hamukoto who also spoke at the event advised potential entrepreneurs to focus on their education and to use it to run their businesses one day. “You need to study to run a business. There is this perception that people only start businesses because they are unemployed. You can for example study Accounting and use what you learnt to start your own accounting firm after you’ve finished with all your education. However, she did warn graduates not to rush into starting their own businesses and rather encouraged them to be patient and seek employment somewhere else to gain experience about the industry they want to operate in. “Do not start your businesses immediately. You should firstly gain experience somewhere and then you can start your own business after you have gained enough experience,” she says. The Deputy Chief of National development and macro-economic planning in the ministry of economic planning, Johannes Ashipala, said that the government has made it a priority to curb unemployment rate in the country and stated that they went out of their way to fund business ideas for young entrepreneurs and that the government also offers training and assistance to the youth whenever possible.

Thomas Iipinge, a Business Administration student from the Namibia University of Science and Technology who attended the event says it was an insightful event and says he learnt a lot while he was at it and says he gained valuable information that was vital for him. “Having spoken to the experts in the industry who shared so much useful information with us was really needed. I networked with a few people and got some advice that I might use in the future,” he says.