19 Feb 2019

 Kgosi Oleo Ledimo has welcomed the move by the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development to transform technical and vocational education training (TVET) through a character building programme. 

The programme was designed with a collection of topics and lessons to equip trainees with life skills, cultivate emotional intelligence, nurture a sense of entrepreneurship and develop culture of effective leadership qualities.

Kgosi Ledimo praised the ministry during a culture day organised by Maun Technical College recently.

He said the transformation would radically change people’s attitudes towards vocational training institutions. 

The transformation, he said, was a welcome development because it would bring new programmes, which would benefit graduates.

He mentioned programmes such as leather craft, music, jewellery manufacturing, solar energy, beauty therapy and culinary arts among others. 

Kgosi Ledimo said it was disturbing that the institutions were producing graduates who were not absorbed in the industry, resulting in the importing of skills and labour. 

He added that this called for transformation of the institutions to make them more relevant to the industry.

Public relations officer in the ministry, Ms Neo Lenkopane, said the main goal of the programme was to transform TVET so that the graduates could acquire relevant skills that would help them improve their lives and eventually contribute to the country’s economy. 

She further said this would enable graduates to be competitive, flexible as well as to easily adapt to industry needs.

Implementation of the Character Building Programme, she said, was done in conjunction with stakeholders such as community leadership, police, financial advisors, motivational speakers, health officers, prisons, fire department, Women Against Rape organization and wildlife department.

She also explained that this year’s enrolment was a special recruitment since there was no cut-off point noting that the intention was to absorb as many candidates as possible. 

The transformation was expected in the four technical colleges of Maun, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, Jwaneng and 35 brigades across the country. Ends