adminTHE Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Cde Patrick Zhuwao, has challenged all Vocational Training Centres to become commercial productive centres.
Cde Zhuwao said this last Friday as he officiated at the Mutare Urban Vocational Training Centre graduation ceremony which ran under the theme: ‘Fine Tuning Our Mind Set for Effective Implementation of the Zim-Asset.’
“In pursuit of the agenda that VCTs have to avoid relying on the Government at all times, all training programmes at our VCTs will be based on the economic opportunities in each district.
“It is the ministry’s plan to ensure that there shall be a Vocational Training Centre in every ward by 2018,” he said.
He said in line with Government’s Result Based Management System, it shall not be business as usual for VCTs as they were now expected to produce results, not only in form of imparting knowledge to the students, but producing financial results as well.
“You as VCTs are now expected to perform and meet the set enrolment and production targets, as well as to use the skills within your establishment because this new move is meant to help in assisting the centres in funds,” he said.
He went on to state that non-productive and underperforming members in the leadership committees of the training centres were not welcome since great results are harvested by hard working leaders who work together with their staff and students.
He, however, explained that the centres still had a lot to expect from Government despite having been challenged to outgrow themselves.
Said Cde Zhuwao: “Despite the new move that they have to be self sustaining, Vocational Training Centres will, however, continue to be provided with the necessary support that includes staff capacity building, infrastructural development, retooling and provision of post-training support to graduates in the form of affordable credit, start-up kits, market linkages and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through incubation.”
In his progress report, the principal of Mutare Vocational Training Centre, Mr Denver Rusinga, said their biggest thrust as a college was to fine tune students’ mindset since they were the future’s potential implementers of the Zim-Asset economic blueprint.
Of the 308 graduands, 128 went through a one-year training programme and an additional year on industrial attachment and are certified in Entrepreneurship Development in their various disciplines.
The rest were trained under the Integrated Skills Outreach Programme (ISOP).
The graduation was graced by the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, board chairperson, Mr Kenneth Saruchera and Manicaland Provincial Youth Development Officer, Mrs Theressa Mupanduki.
Online Reporter