Govt moves to bridge VETA skills, jobs
DODOMA: THE Government has directed the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) to align its training programmes with labour market demands, with employers urged to take an active role in shaping the skills needed to drive employment and economic growth.
Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, issued the directive yesterday in Dodoma when he officially launched six Sector Skills Advisory Committees (TACs) established by VETA.
He said employers must be fully involved in the training system by identifying the skills, equipment, technologies and performance standards required in their respective sectors.
“Employers must be part of the training system. They must say what skills, equipment, technology and performance standards they need,” Prof Mkenda said.
He said the initiative was part of the National Plan for Collaboration between Education Institutions and the Industrial Sector in Skills Development and Employment Empowerment, launched by Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi in Dar es Salaam on February 9 this year.
According to Prof Mkenda, the plan seeks to align training offered by education institutions with actual labour market requirements while strengthening links between education institutions and productive sectors.
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He said education could not be left to training institutions alone, stressing that employers and the productive sector had a major role to play in preparing a skilled workforce.
He challenged TAC members to become a bridge between VETA, the Government, employers and the private sector by advising on emerging technologies, production trends and changing skills requirements.
“Do not become committees that only hold meetings; become committees of results. Identify changes before they happen and advise VETA to act early,” he stressed.
Prof Mkenda said the committees should advise on new skills, training programmes and technologies that needed to be introduced, improved or phased out because they had become outdated.
He said VETA should continue introducing programmes in sectors with employment and self-employment opportunities, including tourism, hospitality, arts, ICT, manufacturing, construction, energy and agriculture.
The minister said skilled human resources were essential for implementation of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, noting that modern industries could not be built without technicians, engineers, ICT specialists and other skilled workers.
“We cannot build a digital economy without young people with ICT skills, nor can we achieve a self-reliant Tanzania without the capacity to produce goods and services using our own knowledge, technology and innovation,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of VETA Director General, Director of Vocational Training Dr Abdallah Ngodu said the six newly established sector committees comprised 36 members and would advise the VETA Board on training programmes and labour market needs.
He said the committees would provide technical advice on curriculum development, quality standards and introduction of new training programmes in line with technological and economic changes.
The committees cover agriculture; transport and industrial production; sports and creative industries; blue economy and mining; tourism, ICT and services; and construction and real estate.
Dr Ngodu said their establishment marked a new phase of cooperation between VETA and stakeholders in ensuring vocational training responded to labour market needs and the country’s development priorities.
