Patience Makwele
The Asoli Progressive Party has raised concern over a growing gap between Namibia’s tertiary education system and labour market demands as a new group of graduates prepares to enter a strained job market.
In a statement this week, party president Joseph Kauandenge questioned whether universities are equipping students with skills that match economic needs.
He warned that many graduates face limited job opportunities after years of study.
Kauandenge has called for a review of tertiary education programmes and stronger links between government, universities and the private sector.
It also called for policies that help graduates enter the workforce.
Some graduates who spoke to Young Observer say the pressure starts before entering the job market, with the cost of graduating becoming a challenge.
“I did not attend my graduation,” said a 25-year-old University of Namibia graduate in Rundu who asked not to be named.
“After paying for tuition, accommodation and food for years, there was nothing left for gowns, photos or celebrations.”
She completed her degree in 2025 but chose to collect her certificate later instead of attending the ceremony.
“You want that moment, but financially it just doesn’t make sense. Right now, survival comes first,” she said.
A 27-year-old graduate from the International University of Management (IUM) said he has worked as a security guard for the past year after studying logistics.
“It is not what I studied for, but I had to take what I could get. At some point, you stop being picky. You just need income,” he said.
He said most entry-level jobs require years of experience, leaving many graduates unable to enter the job market.
Youth unemployment in Namibia remains above 40 to 50% among those aged 15 to 35. Graduates are part of those struggling to find work.
Labour analyst Ndapewa Hamunyela said the issue is shifting from unemployment to underemployment.
“We are seeing graduates taking jobs far below their qualification level. That has long-term implications for productivity, wages and morale,” said Hamunyela.
She said while more people now access tertiary education, economic growth has not kept pace.
“The economy is not diversifying fast enough to absorb the number of graduates being produced each year. Without growth in labour-intensive sectors, this gap will continue,” she said.
But employers say graduates often lack practical experience.
A Windhoek-based human resources consultant, Betty Hileni Aipinge, said many graduates are not ready for the workplace.
“There is often a mismatch between academic training and workplace expectations,” Aipinge said.
“Companies are looking for people who can adapt quickly, and that usually comes with experience.”
This leaves many graduates unable to find work because they lack experience and unable to gain experience because they cannot find work.
Some young people are starting to rethink their path.
“There is pressure to go to university, but no guarantee at the end,” said another graduate who has started a small online clothing business. “If I could go back, I would probably combine studying with building something on the side.”
Entrepreneurship is often seen as an option, but many young people struggle to access funding.
As graduation ceremonies continue across the country, they mark achievement but also uncertainty.
“Getting the degree is one thing,” the Unam graduate said. “What comes after is the real challenge.”
