Apprenticeship system seen as key to expanding youth employment

MOROGORO: Stakeholders in skills development in Tanzania have said that strengthening the apprenticeship system in line with international standards set by the International Labour Organization (ILO) will help increase employment opportunities for young people and produce graduates whose skills match the real demands of the labour market.

The remarks were made during a workshop organized by the ILO through the Global Skills Programme with support from Norway. The meeting focused on validating the implementation plan for apprenticeship training, known as the Apprenticeship Road Map.

The workshop, held in Morogoro, brought together stakeholders from educational institutions, vocational training centres, government agencies, and the private sector to discuss ways of improving practical skills training in the country.

Speaking to journalists, Skills Development Specialist from the ILO Pretoria office, Albert Okal, said the workshop aimed to assess how the apprenticeship system is being implemented in Tanzania and how closely it aligns with the international apprenticeship framework established by the ILO and its member states.

Okal noted that curriculum analysis had revealed that Tanzania’s apprenticeship system has not yet reached the expected standards.

“Some findings indicate that apprenticeship training is still not a major component of the vocational education system compared to other technical education programmes. We hope this report will help identify areas that require improvement,” said Okal.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Zanzibar Vocational Training Authority, Dr. Bakari Ali Silima, said the apprenticeship system is an important tool for ensuring graduates secure employment because they are trained according to labour market and industrial needs.

“Apprenticeship training is highly needed in our educational institutions, especially universities. If we successfully deliver this training effectively, we will help increase employment opportunities for young graduates. In addition, the issue of youth acquiring multiple skills should be given priority,” said Dr. Silima.

On his part, Assistant Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Daudi Simbeye, said the government is committed to ensuring the system becomes an important mechanism for helping youth secure jobs and self-employment opportunities.

He explained that through the skills recognition programme known as SAMIA, the government continues to support young people who acquired skills in the informal sector by providing them with training and certificates that enable them to become self-employed or formally employed.

Community Development Officer from the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Dennis Assey, said that through the workshop, the ILO presented an assessment report examining the actual status of Tanzania’s apprenticeship system in line with Recommendation 208.

Assey added that the government will continue collaborating with the ILO to strengthen the system through the National Skills Development Programme, under which more than 5,000 young people are currently receiving apprenticeship training in 46 colleges across the country.

“In the 2025/26 financial year, the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations has continued implementing the national skills development programme. One key area is apprenticeship training, where more than 5,000 youth are studying in 46 colleges nationwide. We encourage young people to follow up and make use of these opportunities announced every year,” said Assey.