Nairobi:Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp announced that the Zambezi Vocational Training Centre (ZVTC) will enhance its capacity to offer quality, relevant, and industry-responsive vocational education and training skills to its trainees.

According to Namibia Press Agency, during a speech at the graduation ceremony for over 250 students, the minister revealed that N$62 million was invested from 2020 to 2023 to expand the centre's scope. This investment underscores a commitment to improving ZVTC's infrastructure and capacity to meet the growing demand for skilled labor.

A significant development at ZVTC is the introduction of Level 4 qualifications across all trades, with agriculture identified as a key sector for Namibia's food security, employment, entrepreneurship, and rural economic growth. A Level 5 Diploma in Agriculture will soon be introduced, marking another milestone for the institution.

The centre's growth is supported by international partnerships, notably with the Government of Japan, which contributed N$50 million for new workshop buildings and training equipment. Steenkamp urged continued support from development partners to aid ZVTC in its mission to create jobs through skills development.

At the graduation ceremony, Steenkamp encouraged graduates to view their achievement as the start of a new journey. John Kambimbi, a former plumber now serving as a deputy commissioner in the Namibian Correctional Service, was the motivational speaker. The event was themed "Empowering skills, inspiring innovation, building Namibia," and celebrated graduates from diverse fields including agriculture, forestry, business services, hospitality, automotive sales, and more.