Govt urges change in financing of tertiary skills training model
By Dziko Joe Mwanza
Wed 24 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
The government has urged a change to the model of financing of tertiary skills training in Zambia from the current predominantly state-funded model to a private sector-driven one.
Giving a keynote speech on Wednesday at the launch of a book on insurance literacy, Basics of Insurance: A Zambian experience, authoured by Professional Insurance Corporation Ndola branch head Webster Twaambo, Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Education, and Early Education permanent secretary Dr Patrick Nkanza reiterated his government's willingness to partner with the private sector in the provision of tertiary education.
"World-over, skills training is largely private sector-driven.
Companies see the value in funding training institutions to provide their trained labour. In the SADC region, vocational education is largely funded by the private sector, with government playing a regulatory role. It is only this side where our tertiary education is still public sector-driven. I was looking at a Korean case; 80 per cent is private sector-funded, only 20 per cent is public-funded. We must grow beyond public sector funding of education. Zambia is one isolated case where skills training is public sector-funded. This over-reliance on public sector funding for skills training is a problem; we must diversify," he said.
Dr Nkanza also lamented the state of Zambia Insurance Business College Trust, the sole insurance college which he said had suffered from neglect.
"At tertiary level, the Zambia Insurance Business College Trust (ZIBCT), which is the only one that provides intermediate training, evolved out of the wishes of the industry. When one looks at it today, one sees an institute that has been allowed to drift to ruin I do not see why an organisation set up by the industry can be allowed to drift to ruin. I therefore challenge all industry players to look into the state of the institution," Dr Nkanza said.
In Zambia, through grants, the state funds most state universities, trade schools and colleges.
At the same occasion, Dr Nkanza said that his government was considering reviewing the primary and secondary school curriculum so that it provides for two streams; one for vocational education and the other for academic education.
"There is development of a grade 8 to 12 curriculum; there will be an academic part and a vocational path. This will require a curriculum reform which this book we are launching will contribute to," he said.
Dr Nkanza further cited lack of skills training for the low levels of youth unemployment.
"When we ask the labour experts, they tell us they can't find people with the skills employers are looking for; the rate of employment is lower than the rate of economic growth. This book will help equip young people with skills in a key industry like insurance," said Dr Nkanza
Labels: PATRICK NKANZA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, WEBSTER TWAAMBO
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Government implores mining companies to revamp trade schools
TIME PUBLISHED - Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 12:44 pm
Government has implored Mining companies in the country to consider revamping the trades training institution in their areas of operations in order to create a reservoir of skilled labour for the industry.
Mines Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa said this today during his tour of Kwambula training centre at Solwezi technical trades institute.
Mr Musukwa said it was the desire of government to see that the expanding mining industry had a reservoir of skilled human resource which will be able to continue running the mines long after expatriates leave.
He said once trades schools were operational the dependence on expatriate labour will reduce and this will result in more Zambians taking up skilled jobs in the mining companies.
Mr Musukwa also urged Zambians working in the mines to maximize on expatriate skills in various fields so that they remain equipped with skills that will eventually help them to sustain mine operations after investors leave the industry.
And SOTTI principle Charles Shindamba said the Kwambula training centre had added value to the institution as it would produce the necessary human resource for the mining industry.
The Kwambula training project is an initiative by First Quantum Minerals in conjunction with government to train local people in various skills necessary to support the mining industry.
ZANIS
Labels: TAXATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, WINDFALL TAX
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Muchinga targets native teachers
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 04 Sep. 2012, 09:00 CAT
EDUCATION authorities in Muchinga Province have come up with a strategy of recruiting only single teachers or those who are married within the area as a way of maintaining the staffing levels.
Provincial education officer Jobbicks Kalumba disclosed this on Saturday during the provincial development committee meeting after Shiwangandu member of parliament, Steven Kampyongo, expressed concern at the high number of teachers that had left his constituency.
Kalumba said the province had lost a number of teachers because of transfers and that this had adversely impacted on the levels of teaching and learning in the province.
"We want to identify men and women who are single or married within the province because these will not go. They will remain with their husbands and wives within Muchinga Province. That is the scenario we have reached because we have lost a lot of teachers out of transfers," Kalumba said.
He said so far, more than 400 teachers had requested for transfers to provinces such as Lusaka, Copperbelt, among others.
"This is not healthy for the nation but fortunately the 350 teachers that are expected to report to the province this month are single or married within the province," he said.
''We are going to solve this problem. I learnt a lesson from Mpulungu where people are crying that teachers were going back. I said okay, 'what do I do?' We recruited single men and women for the first time; 65 of them. What happened was if a single man and woman reported for duty, I would send them to one school where they eventually fell in love, married and remained there. Thus we maintained the staffing levels in Mpulungu," said Kalumba.
He said the issue of transfers was a big problem but promised that this would come to an end.
Kalumba said the 350 teachers to be recruited for Muchinga would be sent to all the six districts in the province.
And Kalumba said in terms of infrastructure, the province still had so many schools made of pole and mud.
"Besides this, there are also a good number of classrooms that are dilapidated and inadequate making the atmosphere inconducive to learning. Staff houses are also inadequate and in some cases in poor state thus making it very difficult to send staff to schools that are in remote or rural areas where such situations are common," Kalumba said.
Kalumba said furniture in some schools was not adequate and that this was more pronounced during examinations when desks were not enough for both pupils in secondary and basic schools writing examinations.
He said the provincial performance at grade seven and 12 for the past three years had been improving steadily whereas at grade nine, a lot still needed to be done in all six districts.
Meanwhile, Kalumba said the province had collected all the staff files from Northern Province in addition to successfully holding the Teaching Service Commission session.
He said they had also developed a provincial work plan and strategic plan for the period 2012-2015 and had also held administrative meetings for all stakeholders in education aimed at improving learning and teaching.
Kalumba said other achievements that the province had recorded included the distribution of 4,000 desks from Mpika to Isoka that would be shared between Isoka and Mafinga, and appointed staff to manage education at Mafinga district education office.
Kalumba called on the government to procure vehicles for all districts and provincial offices, increase funding to all the institutions, recruit more staff, construct offices at Isoka and Mafinga and put the latter district on the establishment.
Labels: EDUCATION, TEACHERS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Expand existing training centres
By Editor
Tue 28 Aug. 2012, 10:25 CAT
Editor,
There is no escaping the fact that the current ZNS training facilities will not be able to accommodate the population of school leavers that we produce annually.
Therefore, in the government's quest to re-introduce ZNS entrepreneurial trainings, it would be prudent if they start by expanding the already existing skills training centres, for instance, in Ndola we Mushili Skills Training Centre which has vast idle land in the vicinity.
If we consider expanding this centre, it has the potential to accommodate more than 1,000 school leavers. In doing so, congestion in ZNS training centres will be minimised; thereby improving on teacher-student ratio. It is a fact that lower teacher-to-student ratio improves learning.
Moses Twabo,
Ndola
Labels: VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Equip pupils with practical skills: President
Saturday, 14 July 2012 12:28
Bulawayo Bureau
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday challenged schools to adopt a production system in their curriculum to equip pupils with practical skills to produce self-reliant youths.
Addressing thousands of people at the joint launch of the Presidential High Schools e-learning programme for the country’s southern region and the technologically advanced Landa John Nkomo High School at Manqe in Tsholotsho District, President Mugabe said the academically-inclined education system was a disadvantage to the country.
He said the launch of the e-learning programme was a way of creating self-reliance among the youths and of equipping the girl child with survival skills that would prevent exploitation.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said he was also impressed by the school’s efforts to enroll and educate members of the minority San community, who reportedly still do not appreciate the importance of modern schooling.
“Lest we forget, the colonial education system which we inherited was by and large, academically inclined and deliberately designed to create an ever desperate pool of job seekers who eagerly awaited and gave each other turns to join the white dominated and controlled labour market only to be exploited for the white man’s benefit,” said President Mugabe.
He applauded Vice President Landa John Nkomo for establishing the school, the first in Tsholotsho to have a fully equipped computer laboratory, designed to bring e-learning to the rural areas.
Vice-President Nkomo built the school, situated about 10km west of Tsholotsho Business Centre.
“The launch of the e-learning programme at this particular school would not have been possible without the Honourable Vice-President Landa John Nkomo’s quest for development and his visionary leadership,” said President Mugabe.
The President said VP Nkomo was inspired by the goals of the liberation struggle.
“He knew very well that our independence would be meaningless if the national socio-economic development agenda is not addressed. It is through the desire to uplift the livelihoods of our people that he mobilised resources for establishing a secondary school in this remote area, which is one of the districts that bore the brunt of the draconian racial policies of the settler governments, whose objective was to under develop indigenous people,” said President Mugabe.
He said the curriculum at Landa John Nkomo High School had a bias towards science and practical subjects, which tended to equip pupils for the adult world where they could use skills learnt for self-employment.
“Mindful of the vulnerability of the girl-child, the VP has taken measures to ensure that the school also focuses on skills which are tailor-made to develop the girls from an early age,” said President Mugabe.
He said the school’s deliberate focus on enrolling children from the disadvantaged and marginalised San community, thereby bringing them on board for social programmes and activities was in tandem with the Government policy of recognising and empowering minority groups wherever they were in Zimbabwe.
The President said the launch of the southern region’s e-learning programme was an indication that the Government was committed to improving the quality of education in the country.
The southern region covers five of the country’s 10 provinces — Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South.
“This event comes two months after a similar launch for the northern region at Chogugudza Primary School in Mashonaland East on 28 March,” said President Mugabe.
He said the launch was an addition to the Presidential Schools Computerisation Programme that introduced the e-learning programme at schools.
“Comrades and friends, the speed of global technological and economic transformation demands that we move abreast of other developing countries if we are to derive the full benefits of the ICT revolution and turn the digital divide into digital opportunities for the nation,” said President Mugabe.
He said the country was looking forward to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture to be the implementing agency to give the e-learning programme the attention it deserved.
“Through technology-enhanced learning, Zimbabwe is destined to produce school leavers with the requisite 21st century skills, which are critical factors in this worldwide digital economy. The establishment of Landa John Nkomo High School thus takes place at an opportune time when the ICT revolution in this country is just setting in,” said President Mugabe.
He donated 15 Hewlett Packard computers, complete with accessories, three printers and 50 blank DVDs to augment the school’s ability to impart e-knowledge to pupils and surrounding schools.
The Zimbabwe National Army was very instrumental in the construction of the school as they provided qualified builders.
The school now has five neatly painted classroom blocks including a well-equipped science block.
It also has a well-furnished administration block and a computer laboratory with modern computer sets.
The entire school, including teachers’ cottages, has been electrified while the computer laboratory has been connected to the Internet.
A water pump and water taps have also been connected for domestic and agricultural activities.
The school has been fenced while a neatly designed gate and sign post have also been erected.
There is also a poultry project centre, which is already running.
Labels: EDUCATION, ROBERT MUGABE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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MDC-T backs youth service
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 00:00
Herald Reporter
MDC-T legislators yesterday made a major climb-down by admitting that vocational training centres are important for youth development.
The party has in the past discredited the training centres, claiming that they are used to train youths partisan politics. The MDC-T legislators said the vocational training centres were noble, adding that there was a misconception by their party that vocational training centres were used as torture bases.
The MPs said this while contributing to a portfolio committee report on Women Affairs, Youth, Gender and Community Development, chaired by Sunningdale MP Margaret Matienga (MDC-T) on the challenges and constraints affecting operations of VTCs.
The MDC-T legislators joined their Zanu-PF counterparts in lauding the centres, and urged the Government to adequately resource them and increase their numbers to assist youths. The report stemmed from a tour of several centres by the committee.
Nkulumane MP Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu said from his experience as Deputy Minister of Youth Development, the current perception on the centres is misguided.
“There has been a perception from my party that these VTCs are used for violence. These VTCs are for the people of Zimbabwe and not for Zanu-PF or MDC-T,” said Mr Mahlangu.
Masvingo West MP Mr Tachiona Mharadza (MDC-T) said there was a perception that if a ministry was being headed by a Zanu-PF minister, programmes it undertook were for that party.
“We need to support that minister, irrespective of the party that he belongs to,” he said.
Magwegwe MP Mr Felix Sibanda (MDC-T) said there was need to correct the perception about the centres. He said in his constituency, he has been urging people to enroll at Lobengula Training Centre, but most of the youths were reluctant because of the perception they have.
“People still believe that these centres are for militia training,” he said.
On the conditions of the centres, Chiredzi East MP Mr Abraham Sithole (Zanu-PF) said because of under-funding, principals of some centres were sharing houses with students, a situation which exposed female students to sexual abuse.
“You cannot put a cat and a mouse in the same room,” he said.
Cde Sithole also noted that at some centres, some students were sleeping on the floor, with no blankets and food.
Most centres visited had no vehicles providing efficient service, while the infrastructure like ablution facilities were not properly working.
The committee also observed that the US$250 fees per semester were high considering that most of the students were from poor families.
Some politicians had assumed control of portions of land owned by the centres.
The committee also said the centres should not be used for political activities and campaigns by political parties during elections.
It was also recommended that the Public Service Commission should allow the Ministry of Youth to employ and fill the centres with substantive principals.
Labels: CADRES, MDC, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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‘Only for cadres!’
2010/04/09
DRAMA erupted in villages around Alice on Friday when ANC members attempted to stop local youth from signing up to take part in a government learnership programme. The drama unfolded in Upper Gqumashe, Golf Course, Lower Gqumashe and Dyamala villages.
When journalists arrived on the scene in Upper Gqumashe, ANC members ran away and locked themselves in a house – but not before tossing buckets of dirty water at a Dispatch photographer and also the youth who were being denied participation in the programme.
“We don’t care, the ANC won’t do anything about us. We are defending the struggle. Just leave before we call the police,” one ANC member shouted from behind a closed door.
In recent weeks unemployed youth in the Nkonkobe region had been invited to sign up for a Nkonkobe Youth Imbizo that will take place at the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Alice campus this Friday. The imbizo will involve a number of government departments and all Skills Education Training Authorities (Setas), which will offer some opportunities for learnerships and other skills.
Since last month, community meetings have been held in all 158 villages in the Nkonkobe region, calling for all unemployed youth to be part of the coming imbizo.
But it appears that the event was hijacked in some villages.
One of the youth, Amanda Mabandla said she was told by a known ANC member, “it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if I want to be part of the programme I must join the youth wing (ANC Youth League).
“I refused to join and he refused to put my name and ID number on the list,” Mabandla said.
Lindikhaya Dywili , who was also told to sign up said: “We seem to be having no choice, this ANC rules and we just have to follow what they do. I was told that they are the ones who are coming up with these opportunities,” he said.
Neliswa Baliso from Upper Gqumashe said she decided to blow the whistle because many youth were being denied participation in an event that was supposed to be to the benefit of all, purely because they were not seen as being in the inner circles of the local ANC Youth League.
“We are forced by these ANC people to join their youth wing to qualify for the learnerships,” said Baliso.
Seta consultant Vicky Nkomana, who is organising the imbizo this weekend, said she had been shocked to learn that some youth were being prevented from having the opportunity to be part of the coming event.
“This is shocking. Different Setas will be (at the Alice campus) this Friday to give support to the youth. There is no way that it is politically linked. We don’t look at one’s political affiliation for one to be part of this.
“Those who are (stopping all youth from participating) are killing this programme,” Nkomana said.
A number of community leaders were approached by Nkomana to identify young people who might be suitable to take part in the learnership.
But some people who were tasked to do the job took the opportunity to convince the youth to be part of the ANC Youth League to be considered for learnerships.
The Dispatch accompanied some youths who tried to sign up with Nomsingathi Makapela .
She refused to sign them up for the programme “saying you must come with your money” (R12 to sign up for the ANCYL). She also refused to sign up two others saying “these two must go, they are Cope members”.
With her were three other ANC members, Nontathu Myoli, Thembisa Mantambo and India Nzoyi.
When the Dispatch returned a second time to confront Makapela and two others, they ran away and locked themselves in Makapela’s house.
Mantambo said she did not report to the Dispatch. “You are not ANC and I am not reporting to you. Whatever I do is not for you to write about,” she said.
ANC sub-region secretary and Nkonkobe Municipality Speaker, Joe Ndlebe said: “ As the ANC in this region we distance ourselves from this.” — By BONGANI FUZILE, Crime Reporter, bonganif *** dispatch.co.za
Labels: ANC, ANC YOUTH LEAGUE, LIBERATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Tertiary education
By Editor
Sat 06 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
A society which values its future affords the highest priority to providing its young people with the best possible education.
The statistics of figures of secondary school leavers who access higher education given by Dr Patrick Nkanza tell a very frightening story. We are told that only six per cent of the total number of pupils who complete Grade 12 are able to access a higher education. We are also told that only three per cent of this six per cent access technical, educational, vocational and entrepreneurship training, two per cent go to universities and one per cent pursue other tertiary programmes. And this leaves 94 per cent of our school leavers in limbo, waiting for the dice to roll.
Dr Nkanza further observed that there was need for the government to formulate the national skills development plan, so as to increase the number of training institutions in the country. Are we being told that our country doesn’t have a national skills development plan? If this is so, how can we seriously talk about development? Is there a country in the world that has developed without such high skills among its people? Is there a country that has developed with 94 per cent of its young people, of its school leavers not accessing tertiary education?
Good tertiary education policy is very critical to the development of our country. And it is time our policy makers recognised that tertiary education is a major driver of economic competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy which has made high quality tertiary education more important than ever before. The imperative for our policy makers, for those who manage the affairs of our country is to raise higher-level employment skills, to sustain a globally competitive research base and to improve knowledge dissemination to the benefit of society.
It is criminal to deny 94 per cent of our school leavers access to tertiary education. Tertiary education contributes to social and economic development in many ways – the formulation of human capital, primarily through teaching; the building of knowledge bases, primarily through research and knowledge development; the dissemination and use of knowledge, primarily through interactions with knowledge users; and the maintenance of knowledge.
Of course, the scope and importance of tertiary education have changed significantly over the years. Over 40 years ago, tertiary education, which was more commonly referred to as higher education, was what happened in universities. This largely covered teaching and learning requiring high-level conceptual and intellectual skills in the humanities, sciences and social sciences, the preparation of students for entry to a limited number of professions such as medicine, engineering and law, and disinterested advanced research and scholarship. These days, tertiary education is much more diversified and encompasses new types of institutions such as colleges, university colleges, or technological institutes. These have been created for a number of reasons: to develop a closer relationship between tertiary education and external world, including greater responsiveness to labour market needs; to enhance social and geographical access to tertiary education; to provide high-level occupational preparation in a more applied and less theoretical way; and to accommodate the growing diversity of qualifications and expectations of school leavers.
As participation in tertiary education is expanding, tertiary education institutions are expected to assume responsibility for a far wide range of occupational preparation than in the past. And as the result of a combination of the increased knowledge base of many occupations and individual’s aspirations, not only doctors, engineers and lawyers but also nurses, accountants, computer programmers, teachers, pharmacists and business managers now receive their principal occupation qualifications from tertiary institutions.
Furthermore, tertiary institutions are now expected to involve themselves in a wider range of teaching than their traditional degree or diploma level courses. It is also increasingly becoming more common for tertiary education institutions not only to engage in teaching and research, but also to provide consult services to industry and government and to contribute to national economic and social development.
Clearly, what is needed here is not only to increase access to tertiary education but also to encourage institutions offering tertiary education to be more responsive to the needs of society and the economy. This calls for a reappraisal of our tertiary education and the setting of new strategies for the future.
Knowledge and advanced skills are critical determinants of a country’s economic growth and standard of living and learning outcomes are transformed into goods and services, greater institutional capacity, a more effective public sector, a stronger civil society, and a better investment climate. Good quality, merit-based, equitable, efficient tertiary education and research should be essential parts of whatever social and economic transformations we undertake. Our country will certainly benefit from the dynamic of the knowledge economy. The capacity for our country to adopt, disseminate, and maximise rapid technological advances is dependent on an adequate and efficient system of tertiary education. Improved and accessed tertiary education and effective national innovation systems can help our country progress toward sustainable achievements in the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those goals related to all levels of education, health and gender equality.
There is need for us to be very clear when we talk about tertiary education. When we talk about tertiary education broadly, we are referring to all post secondary school education, including but not limited to universities. Universities are clearly a key part of our tertiary system, but the diverse and growing set of public and private tertiary institutions in our country – colleges, technical training institutes, nursing schools, distance learning centres, and many more – should be developed to form a network of institutions that our country needs to support the production of the higher-order capacity necessary for development.
As we have already stated, it will not be possible to develop this country without a good system of tertiary education. But our politicians, our policy makers don’t seem to see this as a priority area, a key result area. The amount of money that they spend on their own personal allowances for attending political meetings far outweighs what they spend or are willing to spend on tertiary education.
It seems to be such an easy thing for George Kunda to ask for an additional K5 billion to cater for an increase in allowances of Lusaka-based members of parliament attending the National Constitutional Conference. It also seems so easy for the Minister of Finance to mobilise such money for allowances of members of parliament, which include himself and George. But if any of our tertiary institutions – the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University, Evelyn Hone College, among others – ask for a smaller amount of money than this, it can’t be found, it’s not there, it wasn’t budgeted for. This is how our country is being run. When one looks at the amount of money that has been spent and is being spent on allowances for those attending the National Constitutional Conference, one wonders if this really is a poor country. Why should ministers of government be paid additional allowances for attending to public duties within the normal working time when they are on full time salary? Ministers are paid a salary for being full time servants of the people, why should they be paid an allowance for going to Parliament or for sitting on the National Constitutional Conference during the time they should be sitting in government offices and are being paid for that? This is banditry! This is corruption! They are collecting double pay for one job, for the same job from the same employer! They can’t say they are being paid overtime because there is no such a thing in that job. They are simply stealing public funds.
This also applies to other public workers, whatever their description, who are in full-time employment and are salaried, who leave their offices to go and collect allowances from the National Constitutional Conference or the boards of other public institutions on which they sit.
This money is needed for tertiary education. And all those receiving such money as double pay should in future, when there is change of regime, be asked to return it. It is needed for tertiary education.
Labels: CARITAS, TEVETA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Caritas calls for broadening of vocational training
By George Chellah
Sat 06 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
CARITAS Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu yesterday called for more commitment towards the broadening of vocational training institutions in the country. And Mulafulafu said the nation has been very slow to respond to the increasing demand of youths' need for vocational training.
Reacting to Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) director general Dr Patrick Nkanza's revelation that only six per cent of the total number of pupils who complete Grade 12 are able to access higher education, Mulafulafu said the system was churning out Grade 12s who could not get into colleges.
“It's a problem to get a child into a college now. Now they are being at the mercy of exploitation by these private colleges which have mushroomed then TEVETA itself is not monitoring the standards,” Mulafulafu said.
“So we have most of them just being exploited, they pay to these private colleges they get the qualifications but the job market does not accept them because of those qualifications.
“They want them to go into the traditional government colleges or better recognised colleges. So it's really a problem because it's aggravating the problem of youth unemployment and we need to see more commitment to broadening vocational training institutions.”
He stressed the need for institutions to equip youths with skills that would make them self-sustaining.
“But I think those institutions must also ensure that they prepare the youths not only for employment maybe in the formal sector and so forth. They should be skills that should be able to make them live on their own if they can't get employment into the industry or other formal sectors,” he said.
He said the current situation as far as tertiary education is concerned was a matter of serious concern.
“They should invest more in education, there is more demand for vocational institutions than the infrastructure which is available. We can hardly pinpoint at new colleges that have been constructed since the ones which where constructed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda,” Mulafulafu said.
“And yet the schools have expanded. The number of secondary schools, the number of basic schools have grown so where are all these youths going to be trained?"
Mulafulafu said the nation had been very slow to respond to the increasing demand by youths for vocational training.
Making a presentation during a familiarisation meeting on the operations of TEVETA at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Nkanza noted that out of over 300,000 pupils who complete Grade 12 every year, only six per cent - translating into 14,000 - were able to access tertiary institutions.
"On the issue of training support, there is need to improve access to training because when you look at the figures here, from the schooling Grade 12 we only have three per cent accessing TEVET institutions, one per cent access other tertiary institutions, for instance education colleges, and two per cent are able to go to universities, but you see here 94 per cent of school leavers do not go anywhere," he said.
Dr Nkanza said the scenario had led to a number of pupils enrolling at unregistered institutions.
Labels: CARITAS, TEVETA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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KK bemoans lack of vocational skills among youths
By Sydney Mungala
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said lack of vocational skills among the youth posses a security risk to the nation. Speaking during the 3rd Cavendish University Graduation ceremony in Lusaka on Friday, Dr Kaunda said it was unfortunate that the youth could not access education and health services.
“We have thousands of orphans who roam the streets of our major cities without a modicum of hope. They have no access to health or education facilities, they grow up without vocational skills. This is a most unfortunate situation. It poses various social and security implications to the nation,” said Dr Kaunda who is the Chancellor of the university.
Dr Kaunda advised youths to embrace prevention as the surest way of avoiding HIV/AIDS infection.
“I would like to advise our youth to be mindful in their lives about HIV/AIDS. I would like to remind our youth that prevention of infection is the only way they will stay AIDS free,” Dr Kaunda said.
And President Rupiah Banda challenged local universities not to be just ivory towers divorced from reality.
“Let locally generated research provide solutions to the main vexing problems that our country is facing. Our institutions of learning should not just remain ivory towers divorced from the realities of life in society,” President Banda said.
He urged universities to champion locally generated research.
“The challenge I have for all our universities is to take research as a priority on their agenda. Let locally created generated research be promoted,” President Banda said.
He advised universities to adhere to high standards to ensure that students get value for their money.
“It must be noted that all education providers must adhere to regulations to ensure that we do not allow haphazard establishment of institutions, especially universities with poor standards. It must also be noted that students should have value for their money,” said President Banda.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, YOUTHS
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ZNCB to provide industrial training to TEVET students
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Monday, May 11, 2009 11:42:23 PM
Zanaco Plc has partnered with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) to provide industrial training to students from institutions of higher learning. The programme is being pioneered with three local colleges.
The TEVET Learnership Scheme is a binding agreement between training providers, employers and learners and is aimed at providing students with industrial experience. It is also a learning experience conducted under joint supervision of a training provider and an employer leading to a recognised national qualification.
The three colleges that are pioneering this programme with Zanaco are the Zambia Insurance Business College Trust (ZIBCT), Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP) and the Zambia Institute of Management (ZAMIM) ñ Chingola campus.
“Zanaco managing director Mark Wiessing said the programme was important as it was in line with the country’s economic empowerment initiatives.
Economic empowerment initiatives are about building people. Empowerment is not just about ownership. It is also to a large extent about employment equity for existing employees but also to build the leaders of the future,” said Wiessing.
Earlier, science and technology minister Gabriel Namulambe said the TEVET Learnership Scheme had a potential to provide sector dialogue on matters of mutual interest with regards to skills development.
Labels: TEVETA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ZANACO, ZNCB
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Use CDF to construct skills centres, Chipungu urges east MPs
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Monday, February 16, 2009 4:03:02 PM
SPORTS minister Kenneth Chipungu has encouraged members of parliament in Eastern Province to take keen interest in building youth skills centres using Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
Chipungu said the government's plans to build youth skills centres in all the districts in the country had been hampered by limited resources.
"I really want to encourage members of parliament here that they should take this example that Honourable Forrie Tembo, member of parliament, is doing to try and construct skills centres in their respective constituencies. As you know, us as members of parliament we are getting a sum of K400 million now as a constituency and I think it's good that a bit of that money is directed to making skills centres," said Chipungu when he paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province permanent secretary Eularia Siyamujaye on Saturday as part of his tour of the province.
And Siyamujaye said youths and children were a key factor in national development.
She said shaping youths and children at a tender age could enable them have a good future.
Siyamujaye said the Chiwoko Youth Skills Centre, which is currently being used to train street children, was also vital to the country's development.
"Children who are from the street come out of there (Chiwoko) with all the confidence that they desire to fit in society," she said.
Siyamujaye said the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development personnel in the province were very vigilant and had been working well with the provincial administration.
Chipungu toured Chiwoko Youth Skills Centre which is being run by the Zambia National Service (ZNS), David Kaunda Stadium, Smiling Kids Orphanage Centre, Cheshire Homes and St Anne's Craft Centre during his tour of Chipata district.
Chipungu was also expected to tour the youth skills centre currently under construction in Nyimba district yesterday.
Labels: CDF, EDUCATION, KENNETH CHIPUNGU, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, YOUTHS
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Nsemukila asks colleges to focus on technical courses
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Sunday, December 14, 2008 10:20:20 AM
SCIENCE and technology permanent secretary Dr Buleti Nsemukila has urged technical and vocational institutions to focus on technical courses that encourage the economy to grow.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Nsemukila said vocational institutions had begun focusing on courses that the private sector was also offering and that the trend was creating a gap in the economy.
"I think as you have seen, we have seen some investors bringing in artisans from outside the country when actually our institutions should be training those artisans," he said.
"What we have seen is our institutions are also shifting towards business courses when actually most private institutions are doing business so in the end we are having a gap in the economy."
Dr Nsemukila said the government would not like to see a shift in focus to other courses because this would create gaps.
He, however, said this did not mean that other courses should be abandoned.
And Dr Nsemukila said it was not true that the government would not be offering bursaries to needy students at Evelyn Hone College.
"I was approached by some students from Evelyn Hone, some students who were informed by their management that the government is not sponsoring bursary anymore which was not actually correct," said Dr Nsemukila.
He said his ministry had since asked the Evelyn Hone management to withdraw the statement because it was not correct.
Labels: BULETI NSEMUKILA, TECHNICAL COLLEGES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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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
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Dr Nsemukila calls for skills training in Solwezi
By Agness Changala in Solwezi
Thursday May 29, 2008 [04:00]
MINISTRY of Science and Technology Permanent Secretary Dr Bulleti Nsemukila has said there is need to train people in skills to satisfy the needs of the local investors in Solwezi. Speaking in Solwezi where he is on familiarisation tour, Dr Nsemukila said the province was developing every day and that there was need for the people in the province to acquire skills.
“… You may realise that we are not able to meet the gap that is there in terms of skills and maybe that’s the reason why the investors would come with their own people to do the job which even the Zambians can do,” he said.
Dr Nsemukila said it was important that skilled training was given to the youths.
He said it was important to ensure that local people were developed and involved in the activities of the province for them to feel part and parcel of the development process.
“If they are left behind, they may start complaining that they are being left out, jobs are being given to people outside the province and this may result in xenophobic killings as the case is in South Africa,” Dr Nsemukila said.
Meanwhile, the government has spent K4.2 billion on the construction of Solwezi Trades Training Institute.
A check at the site revealed that administration, library, two workshops and some classroom are still under construction.
Dr Nsemukila revealed that the government had also secured an additional K2 billion meant for the construction of double storey hostels for the institute.
He said there was need to expedite the construction of infrastructure so as to move in tandem with the development in the province.
And North Western Province Permanent Secretary Jeston Mulando bemoaned lack of skills among youths in the province.
He said the youths were even failing to grow vegetables.
“The hospitality industry and the mines are importing their vegetables from the Copperbelt because people here are not able to supply even when there is plenty of water,” he said.
He challenged people in the province to take advantage of the booming economy to improve their lives.
Labels: BULETI NSEMUKILA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Govt allocates K1.6bn to Kabwe Trades
By Gillian Namungala
Wednesday April 30, 2008 [04:00]
GOVERNMENT has allocated K1.6 billion to Kabwe Trades Training Institution (KTTI) for infrastructure development. And science and technology deputy minister Lucy Changwe has expressed worry at the slow pace of rehabilitation works in learning institution. KTTI Principal Andrew Sayila disclosed this when Changwe conducted a tour of the institution. Sayila who commended the government for the infrastructure rehabilitation programme, however, stressed the need to expand the institution.
“With the increasing number of students enrolling at the institution, we need to expand the place if all the students are to be accommodated,” he said
He said accommodation was the current major challenge the institution was facing due to the increased number of people enrolling at the institution. And Changwe expressed worry at the slow pace the rehabilitation works are going in most learning institution
“This delay is not good for our progress. Therefore, contractors taking their time risk having their contracts terminated,” she said.
She gave the contractors up to next month to complete rehabilitation, failure to which their contracts would be withdrawn. Changwe also urged students to desist from vandalism because it was a drawback in development.
Labels: EDUCATION, KABWE TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE, KTTI, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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Katete's chief Kawaza gives land to council
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday April 10, 2008 [04:00]
CHIEF Kawaza of the Chewa people in Katete district has agreed to give part of his land to the district council for developmental purposes. And Eastern Province minister Charles Shawa has said the government will not condone inhuman and barbaric activities by traditional Nyau dancers.
Speaking when Shawa paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday, chief Kawaza said he was ready to release part of his land to the local authority. He complained that previously he was reluctant to give land to the local authority because he was not benefiting from its investment.
Surveyors from Katete were expected to survey the land in chief Kawaza’s area.
And Shawa urged the traditional Nyau dancers to stop harassing people.
“We don’t expect these people to be attacking people because if they do so then they are tarnishing the Nyau dance which is very good and that’s why it was recognised by UNESCO as a master showpiece,” Shawa said.
He said it was sad that some people were bringing into disrepute the rich cultural dance of the Chewa people.
Shawa said this after getting reports that some traditional Nyau dancers were attacking people in senior chief Nzamane’s area.
Shawa also urged Zesco to put a three phased power line at Chiwoko Zambia National Service camp(ZNS).
“The Youth Skills Training Centre is doing very fine at Chiwoko but there is a problem of water as a result of power problems,” said Shawa.
Labels: CHIEF KAWAZA, COUNCILS, KATETE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ZNS
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‘Invest in vocational training’
By Business Reporter
ZAMBIA should invest in professional and vocational training aggressively as a means to creating jobs and strengthening the economy, Lloyds Financial Limited chief executive officer, Lloyd Ching’ambo has said. Professor Ching’ambo who is
National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) president said the country should adequately invest in vocational education and be able to satisfy demand for skilled labour.
He said the country had few professional and vocationally trained people saying most of the existing training institutions concentrated much on business courses rather than focusing on entrepreneurship skills which had potential in terms of job creation. Professor Ching’ambo said this in Lusaka yesterday at a meeting on dialogue for the transformation of jobs hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
“Zambians should not look for jobs or employment from the Government or the private sector but should start up their own businesses and be able to employ others.
We need to change our mindset and train more people as electricians, plumbers and other technical skills that are missing in the country,” Professor Ching’ambo said.
He also said that there was need for the country to come up with colleges or universities that would specifically provide training that meets specific needs of various sectors of the economy such as mining, energy, tourism, manufacturing and agriculture among others.
Professor Ching’ambo further urged the Government to come up with deliberate programmes aimed at ensuring that the informal sector was supported saying there was need to create an environment that was condusive for the entrepreneurship skills to thrive.
“For instance, the Government should allow people to easily access capital. In the Far East, that is a basis for development and growth by making it possible for people to access the capital.
“We need to see how to facilitate growth and environment more accessible for the people in the informal sector to access capital,” he said.
At the same meeting, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said the challenge to the Government was to ensure that the positive developments in the economy were transformed into better jobs.
Mr Mutati explained that there was need for the country to translate the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into people’s pockets.
He said that the Government had targeted to attract a minimum of 100,000 jobs in the country by the end of this year.
“Anything we are going to achieve this year will be focusing on transformation of jobs for the people and the Government will focus more on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) he said.
Labels: NEAC, SMEs, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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