19 May 2015

Rising unemployment, lack of skilled workers and high drop-out rates have placed the issue of educating workers high on the educational reform agenda.

In an attempt to address rising unemployment, lack of skilled workers and escalating drop-out rates, the government committed to maintaining high quality standards of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as it has proved to be an essential tool in beating the above mentioned issues.     

In a recent interview, Mr Dick Mweshi, the principal of Kgalagadi South Brigade, said technical vocational education and training was important as programmes offered were more suitable than regular academic subjects in responding to the rapidly changing nature of skills and new technology.

He said TVET graduates had better employment opportunities than graduates from secondary schools.

“Graduates from technical vocational schools are well prepared to enter the competitive workforce as they are equipped with the necessary skills. They possess the necessary communication, social and interpersonal skills. Also, the technical content of vocational curriculum is based on the needs in the labour market, it is also flexible in responding to the changing labour market,” he pointed out.

He said TVET contributes significantly to the economic development of Botswana as it prepares sufficient numbers of skilled and semi-skilled workers to satisfy the needs of the market.

“The economic competitiveness of any country depends on the skills of its workforce. TVET is one of the crucial elements in enhancing Botswana’s economic productivity as it produces an educated, skilled and motivated workforce which possess all the necessary technical skills in their specialisation. It also produces graduates who have a good attitude towards work,” he added.

Mr Mweshi noted that TVET was about skills training and that training in specific skills was more effective when it builds on a strong foundation of general education. Furthermore, he noted that input from public and private sector advisory committees was crucial for the development of TVET and urged the public, private companies and non-governmental organisations to join forces with the government in improving the quality of technical vocational education and training. ENDS