Pupkewitz Motor Division and Namibia Training Authority (NTA) recently signed an Apprenticeship Memorandum of Agreement in Windhoek to enhance access to training opportunities,
address youth unemployment, improve firm-level productivity and improve national economic competitiveness.
The agreement is part of the apprenticeship pilot project under the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme in the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector.
Pupkewitz Motor Division is amongst 14 local companies that have signed apprenticeship agreements with NTA.
“We embark on a pilot project under which the NTA, in partnership with leading local employers, takes the first steps towards re-introducing apprenticeship - as a key sub-component of Work-Integrated Learning – to Namibian workplaces.
“And by so doing, re-open an alternative, viable and relevant enrolment avenue, through which we can boost access to equitable and high quality TVET opportunities for young people wishing to embark on technical and vocational career paths,” NTA Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Beukes, said.
The apprenticeship programme is based on a dual vocational training system, whereby apprentices will attend classes at accredited training institutions and receive on the job training at Pupkewitz.
Eleven apprentices will be employed in the field of Auto-mechanic for three years while receiving theoretical knowledge through the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC).
Three apprentices in Business Management will be employed through the Commercial Advancement Training Scheme (CATS) with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
Pupkewitz Motor Division Managing Director, Ekkerd van Wyk, said the company has taken on various training programmes over the past three years.
“We have spent a total of N$2.4million on training programmes during 2015 to date and have trained over 800 individuals during the said period. And since 2013, we spent a total of N$1.7million on the CATS trainee programme,” van Wyk said.