Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
OVER 800 young people graduated with certificates at the Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre in Gweru on Friday as the country accelerates skills development among its youths to meet growing economic needs.
This comes as Government has expressed commitment to empowering youths with essential life skills, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
A majority of skills graduates are establishing business ventures as opposed to looking for jobs in line with Heritage Based Education 5.0 model.
The Midlands province has six vocational training institutions and plans at an advanced stage to establish others in Sherwood Block and Mataga Growth Point.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, who was the guest of honour, emphasised the importance of fostering inclusive development, which prioritises youth empowerment and skills development.
By equipping young people with vocational training and life skills, he said Zimbabwe is investing in the future, enabling youths to become active participants in the country’s growth and development.
“Vocational training centres act as the Government’s conduits for rural industrialisation and economic development,” he said.
“Let me take this opportunity to emphasise the importance of digital technology and climate skills development. Our VTCs should be equipped to provide training in these areas, which are critical for our country’s future.”
A process to implement the Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Vocational Training System is already underway. The strategy entails improving infrastructure, retooling, staff capacity development, curriculum review and productivity for more effective training, said Minister Machakaire.
The strategy entails improving infrastructure, retooling, staff capacity development, curriculum review and productivity for more effective training.
“It is noteworthy that young persons with disabilities are being enrolled at our VTCs, which is commendable as we embrace inclusivity in Vocational Training whilst also ensuring we leave no one behind,” he added.
“You have done a great job as you have worked tirelessly to acquire skills in various disciplines such as automobile electronics, electrical power engineering and agriculture, to mention a few.
“These courses are geared towards answering industry needs while also ensuring that we create employers through a special focus on entrepreneurship development.”
The minister said the objective of skills training is to reinvent human capital development and capacitate young people for economic empowerment driven by the Training for Enterprise (TFE) model, which aims at building youth and community capacity in employment creation.
“One of the major aims is to enhance community livelihood through business development, as well as the Skills Outreach Programmes (SOP) for optimum utilisation of locally available resources,” he said.
Government through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training plans to establish at least one vocational training centre in every district of the country as it ensures that no place is left behind.
“We intend to establish VTCs in various districts of Midlands Province. As a result of their demographic significance, the youth have the potential to contribute immensely to the economic development agenda that we have set for ourselves as enunciated by President Mnangagwa,” said Minister Machakaire.
“I encourage young people and communities to fully participate and embrace these programmes.
“Development partners and private sector are key in the development of skills for our young people. We look forward to continued engagements and co-operation going forward as we strive on to ensure meaningful participation of young people in the broader socio-economic environment.”
Addressing the same gathering, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, expressed his deep appreciation for the successful implementation of the Second Republic’s Education 5.0 framework in the region’s Vocational Training Centres.
He said the framework has led to an expanded curriculum, focusing on the production of goods and services, research, technology, and innovation.
“The Midlands province has greatly benefited from Education 5.0, with training institutions establishing industrial parks and innovation hubs. These hubs have developed tangible products and services, including clothing factories, mining equipment, and agricultural equipment, showcasing the region’s potential for growth and development,” he said.
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