Mkenda stresses TVET systems transformation

MINISTER for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Adolf Mkenda, has advised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the country to utilise the Collaboration Exchange Seminar between Tanzania and China to establish friendships and collaborations with TVET colleges in the Asian nation in order to share the best experience.

In his opening speech during the launching of the programme for 2023 China-Africa TVET Collaboration Academic Exchange Seminar and China-Africa TVET Collaboration & Coordination Meeting held at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha, he said experience sharing with China is expected to have a positive impact on the transformation and development of TVET systems in the country.

“China is a good example of a nation with strong TVET systems that have contributed to fastest economic development of the country,” he noted.

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He added that the seminar is in line with government’s initiatives in which vocational education will now be offered at the secondary education level.

“In doing so, many youths will have the skills and readiness for the job. It is my expectation that the experience gained from this seminar will be used to improve the provision of vocational education at the secondary level as well,” he stressed.

Elaborating, Prof Mkenda noted that, it is the government’s wish to have human resources who are well-trained and qualified at all levels in various sectors of the economy, as the intention is clearly stated in Technical Education Policy 1996, National Education Policy 2014 (the 2023 Version), and Tanzania Development Vision 2025.

“The policies envisage the country as a nation with knowledgeable people who can compete in the labour market and transform the country’s economic development. Thus, collaboration with China will strengthen the provision of TVET in Tanzania and help to improve the quality of training provided,” he explained.

He said Tanzania is highly committed to strengthening its collaboration with China vocational colleges in order to improve TVET provision in the country and achieve the policy objectives.

Thus, he is sure that TVET collaboration with China will not only improve the quality of TVET provision but also produce competent human resources and attract foreign investors, including Chinese investments in Tanzania.

Literally, the purpose of this TVET Collaboration and Academic Exchange Seminar organised by the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) is to strengthen TVET collaborations between Tanzania and China and to improve TVET education provision in order to produce skilled graduates capable of responding effectively to national and international labour market demands.

For his part, NACTVET Executive Secretary, Dr Adolf Rutayuga said “this seminar will be followed by a meeting, to be held on Saturday (yesterday) at NACTVET office in Dar es Salaam purports to give each TVET institution the opportunity to introduce itself and network with another.

“We believe that having platforms like this will strengthen the longstanding Tanzania-China relations and improve the quality of technical and vocational education provision in both countries,” he said.

NACTVET has taken a leading role in organising the Seminar in collaboration with the Sunmarker Institute in China.

According to Dr Rutayuga, there are 1,329 TVET institutions in Tanzania. Out of this number, 465 are technical institutions, 809 are vocational institutions, and 55 are folk development colleges.

The colleges are categorised into three sectors called Subject Boards: Science and Allied Technologies (SAT), Health and Allied Sciences (HAS), and Business, Tourism and Planning (BTP).

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