21 Jun 2018

Government continues to strengthen vocational training to produce market-ready personnel and quality skills tailored to industry needs, says Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Mr Fidelis Molao.

He was officiating at the Strengthening Employment -Relevant Technical and Vocational Education  and Training conference in Gaborone on June 21.

Mr Molao said research, education and training were central to the achievement of 2030 Agenda premised on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education that promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

He said the agenda devoted a considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, with focus on access to affordable quality technical and vocational training.

Echoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s inauguration speech, Mr Molao said government recognised the necessity of providing training geared at labour market needs to reduce unemployment.

In this regard, he said, the Department of Teacher Training and Technical Education in partnership with German International Cooperation (GIZ) had organised the conference to map the way forward.

Mr Molao said through Botswana’s cooperation with Germany, curricular aimed at capacitating the human resource for needs-based vocational training was in place in some selected fields.

The fields included human capacity development activities and artisan development programme which focused on jewelry manufacture and design as well as heavy plant engineering, he said.

“I am delighted that as a country, we have benefited immensely from these collaborative efforts of enhancing the quality of TVET,” the assistant minister said.

Mr Molao said through such initiatives, barriers to the world of work had been reduced through work-based learning and ensuring that skills gained were recognised and certified.

He said vocational training had also offered development opportunities for low-skilled people who were under or unemployed and out-of-school youth.

GIZ representative, Mr Christian Hasedorn said the conference’s aim was to bring together stakeholders and beneficiaries for networking as well as to appreciate results of Strengthening Employment-Relevant Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme.

The conference also provided a platform for vocational training actors to share views on the future of the field in Botswana. ENDS