24 Feb 2022

Vocational courses offered at Ghanzi Brigades are not compatible with the current requirements of the labour market, Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Machana Shamukuni has said.
Responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday, Mr Shamukuni said the offered programmes included Electrical Installation and Appliance, Brick Laying, Auto Mechanics and Business Studies which has been offered since 1997.
Given the present industry needs, Mr Shamukuni said he was not satisfied with the programmes offered at Ghanzi Brigades.
He said his ministry was currently reviewing the programmes to meet the standards of the national qualifications framework.
 Mr Shamukuni said the review process started in February 2019 and a total of 88 qualifications had been developed and submitted to Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).
“Out of the 88 qualifications, 29 have been accredited and registered, of which 22 are for level three, six for level four and one for level five,” said Mr Shamukuni.
He said the learning programmes relating to the qualifications were being developed in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.
Mr Shamukuni said progress was being made in aligning the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP), with the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes and institutions with the demand for qualified, productive and competitive human resource.
In order to improve the alignment of TVET programmes with market needs, Mr Shamukuni said his ministry would introduce programmes such as Livestock Farming, Auto Mechatronics, and the improved Electrical Installation and Maintenance as well as Music.
“To ensure competitive and industry relevance graduates, my ministry in partnership with GIZ, a German organisation, who are master trainers in Auto Mechatronics in preparing for the implementation of the new curriculum,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Shamukuni said in order to implement multiple pathways, Ghanzi Brigades had been included in phase 2 project, which was expected to start in 2023/24 financial year.
“The agriculture related course that will be offered at Ghanzi Brigades was livestock farming. Some infrastructure development has commenc at the institution.
The programme will be offered at Certificate level three, four and five,” he said.
Pertaining to mining related programme, Mr Shamukuni said Ghanzi Brigades would be offering Auto Mechatronics and Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
“My ministry will continue to review its product offerings at our institutions looking at market needs in any particular locality,” said Mr Shamukuni.
He was responding to a question from Ghanzi North legislator, Mr John Thiite who had asked the minister to state whether he was satisfied with learning programmes offered at Ghanzi Brigade with regards to meeting labour market realities in terms of both quality and relevance.
Mr Thiite further asked if there had ever been a review of the learning programmes to meet the labour market demands.
He also wanted to know if the ministry had made any progress on the implementation of the Botswana Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) at Ghanzi Brigade to align Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes and institutions with the demand for qualified, productive and competitive human resources.. ENDS