By: Lloyd M’bwana
The country’s Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development introduction of Community Technical Colleges (CTC) with technical support from Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocation Education Training Authority (TEVETA) it’s getting ground with much applause from those in the middle of taking their chances of finding self-employment.
Although some commentators are questioning the initiative’s its real manifestation on the ground, this seems nothing to the country’s leadership with much emphasis that the programme might ease unemployment levels among Malawian youths if embraced whole heartedly.
With almost eight months after the opening of over 11 community colleges in some country’s districts, much is being said, this is the reason, The Maravi Post on Friday, August 28, 2015 spoke with the main benefactors of the initiative including students, lectures and community leaders at Mponera in the central district of Dowa upon President Mutharika official central region launch of Community Technical College.
“The initiative has come at the right time when we were just staying idle at home though holding Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) since 2008. My future has been revived for the better as it looked doom such that after completion of my studies in welding, I will stand on my own by opening my on workshop based on skills and knowledge to be obtained here”, delighted one of the students at the just opened Mponera CTC.
Icing the students’ sentiments, Nicholas Kapolo, a Lecture at Lilongwe Technical College (LTC) who is also beefing up the staff in imparting learners on various entrepreneurship skills at Mponera CTC said introduction of the initiative has lessened enrollment’s pressure at his institution.
“The coming in of community colleges is a relief on our part since LTC used to receive many applicants but we couldn’t accommodate them all due to limited space. Many unprivileged young people will be accommodated with the aim to become economically independent which viable for the country’s economic growth.
“What is needed now its provision of motivation towards lectures, tutors welfare for outstanding output to learners that are out of the college very skillful to turn around their misfortunes for better, therefore, the program has to be supported at all cost in order to transform the country through products’ proceeds made out the initiative”, optimistic Kapolo.
Traditional Authority (T.A) Mponera expressed gratitude over the opening of the college in his area assuring the authority of the total support towards manifestation of the programme.
“The initiative is in right order as my subjects will directly benefit from it with products which will be made out of the training as some are will also get employment. I will always support its implementation that many should continue benefiting from it”, assures T.A Mponera.
With funding from World Bank, European Union, the Labour Ministry and Teveta have implemented various activities in strengthening community technical colleges including training of competent instructors, training curriculum formulation among other in six courses such as Carpentry and Joinery, Brick lying, Welding, Plumbing, Textile, Design and Tailoring.
“Plans are there to have more other courses like Cosmetology that specializes on human beauty to reach public demand of helping many women by becoming economically independent”, assures The Labour Minister Henry Mussa.
Over 300 Malawian youths have been enrolled for the Community Technical Colleges in the district of Dedza, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Dowa and Mzimba as the initiative is expected to be extended to the remaining districts.
With the launch’s theme title, “Skills for Employment Creation and Sustainable Poverty Eradication”, President Peter Mutharika emphasized the need for the country’s youths to embrace entrepreneurship as the way to go in lessening unemployment levels which colour jobs have failed to accommodate young graduates.
“Much of our education system has for a long time concentrated on teaching knowledge more than skills to our people. It has taught us to be employees in white-collar jobs more than employers in production.
But without skills development, Malawi cannot become a producing and exporting nation. Countries such as Germany, China, India, Japan, Brazil and the like have become producing and export-leading economies because they saw the need for technical, entrepreneurial and vocational education.
“Technical community colleges are part of a comprehensive education that teaches us to do things more than know things. It is the education of the people that drives us to move forward with the rest of our youths and our communities. This is a fundamental paradigm shift and a cornerstone of economic transformation
“Technical Community Colleges can make a real impact on people’s lives and reverse the gears of poverty. And the world knows this. That is why our program is receiving overwhelming recognition and support from the international community. That is why the G20 Development Working Group on Human Resource Development nominated Malawi as a pilot country among only four countries in the world to champion skills development.
“This is a programme that will bring industrial spirit to the people. Developing skills lays foundations for industrialization. Those who have the virtue of patience will live to remember that it is skills development that took Malawi to the road to industrialization.
“We cannot achieve sustainable poverty eradication if our people cannot have decent jobs. And this programme also empowers communities with the spirit of self-dependency. Creating decent jobs for our people to earn an honest living dignifies us as a people. But we cannot create and get decent jobs unless we are equipped with relevant skills.
“The standards in these colleges must never be compromised. That is why I have also instructed TEVETA to ensure this. Let us treat these colleges with the prestige they deserve. Let us be proud of our technical skills. No economy, and I repeat, no economy can grow without a skilled labour force”, emphasizes President Mutharika.
