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Ranson Madzamba Correspondent
The New Dispensation has introduced a number of programmes that seek to empower young people of our great nation.
Well, it has to be taken into cognisant that the more the youths are empowered or kept busy, the more they also refrain from drugs and substance abuse.
Government has introduced youth empowerment initiatives that require more gratitude from a number of young people.
Ministries of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Tourism and Hospitality and Mines and Mining Development, among others, now have youth focal desks.
This implies that all the youths who would want to take part in agriculture, tourism and mining are ready to be taken care of and can be capacitated in numerous ways.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training is closely working with these focal desks.
Government is thus coming up with various ways to capacitate the youths who constitute the bulk of our populace.
In Zimbabwe, it can be confirmed that if you empower the youths, you have indeed empowered the nation.
In his recent State of the Nation Address at the official opening of the First Session of the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa emphasised on the essentiality of youth involvement in the development processes of our nation.
He also mentioned how crucial the Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) are to the development of communities.
“Government is developing a National Youth Bill, which will be considered during this Session. The Bill will provide for mechanisms to facilitate mainstreaming of the youth in social, economic and political spaces as well as the sustenance of Vocational Training Centres as hubs for local community development.
“I challenge the private sector to play a part in support of our ongoing initiatives for youth development and empowerment,” said the President
VTCs have an integral role to play in our communities.
A number of people need to know what these VTCs are and how essential they can be to community development, youth empowerment, as well as in curbing drug and substance abuse among the youths.
Vocational training generally refers to instructional programmes or courses that focus on the skills required for a particular job function or trade.
Training at VTCs can be accomplished through many channels and at varying points in someone’s career. This can be post-secondary vocational school, apprenticeship programmes, on the job training-training for rural economic empowerment, as well as distance learning programmes.
To enrol at a VTC, one should just be able to read and write. Anyone with a passion and interest for a certain course is actually given the opportunity to enrol as well.
In short, enrolling at a VTC is actually open to everyone who is willing to acquire life skills training.
However, some courses offered at some VTCs are affiliated to the HEXCO Examinations Board, hence they require one to have 5 O’ Levels inclusive of Mathematics, English and Science.
The VTCs are also open even to those coming from higher institutions of learning like universities and polytechnics.
In this new world we are into, life skills training is indeed the way to go.
Those training under the Training for Enterprise programme are awarded National Foundation Certificates, Certificate of Competency and National Certificates depending on the duration of training.
Trade tests are also done for those that wish to be trade tested from class 4 to 1.
Intakes at VTCs vary from centre to centre, but there are three main intakes namely: January for Certificate programmes, May for Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture specialising in Tobacco production and lastly but not least, September for Diploma programmes.
Courses on offer at these VTCs include, metal fabrication, motor vehicle mechanics, brick and block laying, automobile electrics and electronics, carpentry and joinery, clothing and textile, cosmetology, tourism and hospitality, business studies, agriculture and electrical engineering.
It has to be noted that training at VTCs is needs driven and lasts from six months for competency certificate level and up to three years for diploma level.
In offering their courses and programmes, the VTCs are now venturing into productive partnerships with the private sectors.
The partners include, the British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (BATZ), Plan International, Silveira House, Mimosa, Boltrec to mention a few.
VTCs in Zimbabwe are informed by the existing resource endowments within their locality in the selection of courses to offer. Every province in the country has a VTC.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training through its department of Vocational Training and Skills Development is working flat out in making sure every district has its own VTC.
To all the youths who would want to acquire life skills training, this is the time to enrol at any VTC.
This is the right time to acquire life skills training and shun drugs and substance abuse at all cost.
This is no longer the time to be involved in drugs and substance abuse but rather to acquire life skills training for a better living and a better Zimbabwe.
Ranson Madzamba is a Communication and Advocacy PhD student. He is a holder of a Master of Science Degree in Media and Society Studies. He is also a holder of a BSc Hons Degree in Media and Society Studies.
Online Reporter