Chronicle EditorRobin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
JAIROS Jiri Vocational Training Centre in Bulawayo has recorded big wins as they have almost reached a 50-50 scenario in enrolling students with disabilities and the able-bodied.
The centre, which has traditionally been set aside to cater for vocational training for persons with disabilities, has brought on board able-bodied students in a bid to achieve full inclusivity in training.
A visit to the centre’s exhibition at the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair showed the various art and crafts that the learners were able to do despite their disability. Centre manager Mr Tafadzwa Gochayi said they wanted to bring all people interested on board and have introduced new courses.
“We have introduced new courses because we wanted to enrol more students as we have adopted a new approach in training where we are training youths, with or without disabilities. We now have an inclusive approach to our training model and we strive to reach a 50-50 parity.
“We have new courses like domestic solar installation, solar agro-processing, solar sales and marketing, climate smart market gardening and many more. The mission is to cover a lot of youths between 16 and 35 years in this inclusive approach as we were previously training persons with disabilities only,” said Mr Gochayi.
Mr Gochayi said their training for able-bodied learners will be on a day school basis while boarding facilities are only offered to learners with a disability.
He said they want to recruit the youths that are around the Jairos Jiri VTC that do not have disabilities in the communities around them which include Nguboyenja, Mzilikazi and Makokoba.
He praised the Government for efforts to prioritise vocational learning.
“With the New Dispensation, a lot of efforts are being put on the VTCs, if you check, the Government has about 46 VTCs and vocational education is being covered extensively.
“More can be done for vocational training to be known in the communities and I am glad to say with the new inclusive training model we have embraced, these centres will be known more and be accessible,” he said.
He stressed that Ordinary Level qualifications were not a prerequisite.
“We also want youths to come and be included as we do not require five Ordinary Level passes for one to enroll into a course. VTC education on the other hand can be done by anyone with any level of education.
“We can have a person with a full certificate who wants to come for skills training, others come with university degrees in Humanities and other areas and they need technical skills and appreciation so it is not only for those without Ordinary level passes,” said Mr Gochayi.
Jairos Jiri in Bulawayo has added new products in their leather section which are manufactured by students with disabilities.
“Bulawayo is the hub for leather products so we have a training department in leather craft so this year we put more products in the leather section at ZITF. We manufacture shoes from start to end by hand.
“Our shoes are being accepted locally rather than imports because we use genuine leather which is durable and strong.
“People in Bulawayo really like these shoes because they are handcrafted and can be done to suit the needs of a customer,” said Mr Gochayi.
He said more efforts need to be channeled towards sports for persons with disabilities._@NyembeziMu
Online Reporter