The Relationship between Teacher Graduate Employment and Labour Market Trends
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between teacher graduate employment and labour market trends in Namibia, with a focus on the Khomas region. The findings reveal a significant mismatch between teacher qualifications and labour market demands, particularly due to an oversupply of graduates in lower primary education and a shortage of teachers in Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Vocational Education. The study highlights how labour market shifts, influenced by global trends and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, prioritize technical and specialized teaching fields, while many graduates remain unqualified for these high-demand positions.
Key factors contributing to teacher unemployment include misalignment in training curricula, inadequate workforce planning, budget constraints limiting teacher recruitment and the proliferation of private institutions offering low-quality training. The study recommends strategic interventions such as regulating teacher training intake, revising curricula to match labour market needs, improving teacher distribution across regions and streamlining the hiring process. Additionally, policy reforms, increased government funding and enhanced practical training programs are proposed to improve employment outcomes for teacher graduates. Strengthening collaboration between educational institutions, policymakers and labor market analysts is crucial for addressing the persistent employment challenges in Namibia’s education sector.
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