Employers: Claim training funds by 5 May

Namibian businesses that invested in staff training over the past year could recover up to half of their Vocational Education and Training (VET) levy contributions—but only if they act before midnight on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

A hard deadline for unclaimed funds

The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) is urging all eligible VET levy-paying employers to submit their Employer Training Grant (ETG) claims for the 2025/26 financial year before the hard deadline. After that date, no late submissions will be accepted, and any unclaimed funds will be redirected to national key priority training programmes.

The stakes are considerable. The NTA projects collecting over N$613 million in VET levies from eligible employers for the current financial year, with approximately N$306 million—representing 50% of that total—set aside for disbursement through the ETG window alone. Employers who do not submit applications before the deadline will unfortunately forfeit their grants. Despite the significant sums available, a portion of ETG funds goes unclaimed each year, not due to ineligibility, but because of incomplete applications or submissions that miss the deadline.

Understanding the ETG mechanism

The ETG is not a loan or a government subsidy. It is a structured reimbursement mechanism through which registered levy-paying employers can recover up to 50% of their annual levy contributions, provided they invested in qualifying technical and vocational training programmes between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

Qualifying training is broadly defined. It includes NQA-accredited programmes from Levels 1 to 6, industry-relevant short courses, in-house technical and vocational training, and even training conducted outside Namibia, provided it aligns with vocational and technical skills development. Recoverable costs include facilitator fees, learning materials, assessment and certification expenses, and travel and accommodation where applicable. Salaries, bursaries, and training funded through public sector or social responsibility programmes do not qualify.

Eligibility and application requirements

To be eligible, employers must ensure their levy accounts are in good standing, with no outstanding interest or penalties. Applications must be submitted manually, accompanied by supporting documentation such as course outlines, attendance registers, invoices, and proof of payment.

Claim forms are available on the NTA website, and submissions may be made via hand delivery, post, or email, with large document files shareable through platforms such as WeTransfer or Dropbox.

Employers requiring assistance can contact the NTA at 061 2078 505 or 061 2078 170, or via email at levyclaims@nta.com.na. Application forms and further information are available at www.nta.com.na. The deadline for ETG claim submissions is midnight, Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

Veripi Kangumine is the Namibia Training Authority's employer training grant manager.