Maravi

Rupiah links poor livelihood to unskilled populace

Rupiah links poor livelihood to unskilled populace
By Mutale Kapekele in Livingstone
Tuesday August 12, 2008 [04:00]

HOUSEHOLD incomes in least developed countries are depressed because most people are unskilled, Vice-President Rupiah Banda has said. Vice-President Banda, who was represented by science minister Peter Daka at the official opening of the 7th International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) all Africa conference in Livingstone on Sunday night, said an unskilled population placed severe strain on public social services.

“Most household incomes in least developed countries are depressed because people are unskilled,” Vice-President Banda said. “It means that these people will not be able to pay for social services such as education and health, and will be entirely dependent on the government for provision of these services. But most developing countries are not able to offer these services to their people.”

He said in countries where the government attempted to offer social services for free, the quality was compromised with increased demand.

Vice-President Banda said skilled populations improved the livelihood of the people.

“A skilled population leads to improved household income and this is a good base for improved livelihood of our people,” he said. “Technical education and vocational training also present good opportunities for overall social development of our societies.”

He said technical and vocational training was crucial for economic development and poverty alleviation.

“It is necessary that there is real and tangible commitment to invest in the sector with capital, supported by motivated human resources,” Vice-President Banda said. “Countries with skilled manpower are more likely to attract foreign investment than those with low availability of skills.”

He said it was important that skills were imparted in the young generation as they represented the backbone of countries’ economic growth and expansion.

And Stanbic Bank head of institutional banking Fridah Luhila, said Africa’s major challenge was wealth creation for poverty reduction.

“The sub-Saharan region posted a Gross Domestic Product GDP growth rate of 6.1 per cent and Zambia’s GDP grew by six per cent... clearly the major challenge on the continent lies in matching those growth levels with skilled manpower to drive the emerging market and financing economic sectors,” said Luhila.

“The ability by all the technical authorities in the region to cater for various levels of practical skills training in order to develop enterprenuership and empower citizens to become productive members of society and create wealth for their wellbeing therefore cannot be over-emphasised.

Labels: IVETA, PETER DAKA, RUPIAH BANDA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING

posted by MrK @ 4:44 AM