Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THERE is a disturbingly low uptake of critical practical study areas such as building, carpentry and clothing technology in Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) around the country, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tinomuda Machakaire said this while delivering his keynote address at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training strategic re-orientation workshop for senior managers in Mutare.
“Our vocational training centres continue to face several challenges and these include the need to strengthen policy interpretation and ensure full alignment of national legislation including the Manpower Planning and Development Act of 2022. The slow implementation of the new curriculum and the need to improve access to persons living with disabilities while mainstreaming gender equality, entrepreneurship and green skills. Persistently low enrollment, particularly among young people who are not in employment, education or training, as well as the low uptake of critical trades such as building, carpentry and clothing technology. Dilapidated infrastructure, obsolete equipment and shortages of qualified instructors,” he said.
Minister Machakaire directed senior managers in the ministry to seriously look into possible solutions to address the anomalies.
“It is against this backdrop that I direct this workshop to focus its deliberations on the following strategic priorities: Policy Alignment: ensuring that every Vocational Training Centre interprets and implements national policies consistently and coherently;
“Infrastructure and Equipment Modernisation: accelerating resource mobilisation to meet the targets set under Vision 2030; Inclusive Access: making our centres fully accommodative of persons with disabilities, young women, and other disadvantaged groups;
“Curriculum and Skills Innovation: embedding entrepreneurship, ICTs, and green jobs into our training programmes; Human Capital Development: reskilling, upskilling, and multiskilling our trainers to meet evolving demand;
“Commercialisation and Sustainability: expanding production units, construction brigades, and apparel manufacturing enterprises to generate income; Governance and Accountability: eliminating audit weaknesses, standardising operations, and strengthening professionalism across all centres;
“Health, Wellness, and Social Protection: integrating wellness facilities and anti-drug mechanisms into the life of every Vocational Training Centre; and Climate-Smart and ICT Integration: scaling up solar energy, biogas, and ICT infrastructure across all centres by the year 2028.”
