The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has incorporated technical skills development in its academic programme.

To reinforce this initiative, the Ministry has established Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at all levels for students who have completed the nine year basic education.

According to Gerald Karamutsa, the TVET coordinator at the ministry, the programme is intended to create a workforce needed in the job market both on the local and international scene.

"In the TVET concept, we are aiming at constructing a workforce with technical skills in order to create a competitive and compliant workforce both locally and internationally,” said Karamutsa.

He further noted that ICT as one of the components in the TVET programme will play a pivotal role in digitalising the different technical domains to match the current global trends and practices.

"We shall design a digital TVET curriculum to progressively incorporate ICT which will put our programme on the world footing,” he added   

According to Karamutsa, the model was taken from Singapore and South Korea, countries that have established strong economies as a result of empowering their population in technical and vocational skills.

The policy on technical education was approved by cabinet in July 2008 and this has given a green light to multiple activities geared at fostering technical skills development and education.

Among the skills promoted in TVET are carpentry, mechanics, hair dressing, cloth making and many more.

TVET is conducted in form of formal and non formal technical education, where interested students are enrolled at any level after the nine year basic education.

As opposed to the traditional stereotype of students opting for technical education as a last resort, when they fail to get the required points or fees, this time round, it is going to be a deliberate choice which will even be undertaken by brilliant students.

TVET is regulated by the Workforce Development Authority on a national level.

According to Karamutsa, the skills development budget was moved from 1 to 9 percent,.

The government in its vision 2020 has a goal of creating a knowledge based economy.

Driven by the philosophy of its people being the only resource it has, this could be one of the sure ways of achieving that since people are not only given theory but even practical capacities to create and add value.

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