26 Mar 2018

Over 400 students from 35 vocational training colleges and brigades graduated from various courses at a ceremony held in Gaborone on Friday.

 

When giving a word of encouragement to graduates, employment, labour productivity and skills development minister Mr Tshenolo Mabeo encouraged the graduates to take their education seriously saying vocational training had transformed economies around the world.

 

To the business community, he implored them to hire the graduates and pay them well if they wanted to reap greater results.

 

“I urge you graduates to go out there, get yourselves soiled up and get the job done, to trainers, impart the right knowledge to these people so we may have the best alumni that we can be proud of,” Minister Mabeo said.

 

He further made a plea to the industry captains whom he said were potential employers to create spaces for attachment of graduates since the ministry could not achieve its goal without them in the equation.Minister Mabeo assured the gathering that his ministry was working round the clock to ensure vocational training was put to its rightful place.

 

“Work hard. This government recognises the importance of vocational training, there are some assignments that have been given to me by the President pertaining to vocational training, watch the space,” he said.Delivering a keynote address, the managing director of Assignments Unlimited Mr Nic Janse Van Rensburg said his hope was for the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, the industry and business community to work together in ensuring that the graduates realised their dreams in the outside world.

 

He said vocational training graduates were the ones who drove the economy as they did most of the industries work.

 

“The skills you have should be able to find you a job and if you cannot find a job at least create one for yourself, nobody can take your education from you,” he advised the graduates.

 

He also encouraged them to put to use what they have leant during their studies and attachments across borders of Botswana as they had the ability to perform and out skill students from other nations.

 

For her part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity and Skills Development, Ms Pearl Ramokoka said the mandate of her ministry was to ensure they produced employable graduates by facilitating youth who could be able to join the labour market.

 

“We are in contact with the industry to fully understand its needs so that we adjust our curriculum to meet their needs,” she said.She added that if the graduates desired to be re-skilled her ministry was in a position to help. She furthermore said her ministry ensured labour market relations were habitable.“It is our responsibility through our labour offices to ensure that as employees you are not abused as well as ensuring the employer is not abused as well,” Ms Ramokoka said. ENDS