This article was first published on the New Vision website on April 28, 2023
By Edward Anyoli
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs Janet Museveni has hailed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for transforming the economy.
She said that skills development is a highly rated priority of the government to transform the economy under the National Development Plan III.
In a speech read by John Chrysostom Muyingo, state minister for higher education at Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology (UICT), in Nakawa, Kampala on Wednesday, Mrs Museveni said TVET fulfills the four pillars of education of learning to know, learning to do, learning to be and learning to live with others.
Various vocational Institutions attended an exhibition organized by the Ministry of Education to demonstrate what they have produced from their respective intuitions.
The different institutions showed cases in Automotive engineering, Plumbing, Oil and Gas, Welding and metal fabrication, and carpentry among others.
The national TVET skills exhibition is a landmark activity through which the Ministry of Education and Sports targets TVET Institutions at showcasing the excellence in skills and products that are commercialized for economic growth.
“It is therefore gratifying to see TVET trainees showcasing what they can do using their hands, head, and heart. I have seen with my own eyes products made from TVET institutions are of good quality and therefore can fit well on the Ugandan market but also can be sold to the international markets,” Mrs Museveni said.
She said the level of innovation exhibited by the trainees from the various technical institutes has demystified the notion that TVET is meant for low-grade students. The First Lady urged Ugandans to desist from the negative attitude towards TVET.
“Skills development is therefore positioned to become a strong pillar in our national aspiration to unlock our productivity potential as a country. This country is rich and endowed with both human and natural resources and we only need to skill the human resource to enable us reap from our environment,” Mrs Museveni said.
The First Lady said since 2012 when President Yoweri Museveni launched the skilling program, a lot of development has taken place including six centers of excellence have been established. These she said, include Uganda Technical Colleges (UTC) Bushenyi manufacturing sector, UTC Kichwamba for Oil and Gas, UTC Lira for road construction, Bukalasa Agricultural College, and UPIK for Oil and Gas.
Mrs Museveni noted that the government has continued to expand access to skills development opportunities throughout the country.
Mrs Museveni hailed development partners such as the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Enabel among others for supporting the establishment of TVET.
“The TVET skills exhibition has brought together key stakeholders to share experiences and the benchmark for refocusing training delivery in TVET Institutions. I am sure the participation in this exhibition has not only raised the trainees’ confidence, esteem and perception but will also inspire young people to follow the vocational pathway to become professionals,” Mrs Museveni said.
The First Lady called upon the TVET Institutions to have incubation centers for innovating new products, and have a business arm for income generation to supplement the government subvention.
Mrs Museveni further noted that the goal is in line with the Ministry of Education and Sports strategic plan based on improving access to relevant skills development. She said that the plan is to strengthen partnerships with the community and industry.
“I expect you to collaborate with potential employers and network with probable buyers of your products. It is said that if you are not networking you are not working,” Mrs Museveni said.
The trainees
The First Lady in her speech also urged the trainees to take advantage of the skills they have acquired. She said the more skills attained the more opportunities they will get.
“Avenues are open and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has provided various avenues to access skills for growth and development,” Mrs Museveni said.
The First Lady told the trainees to strive to be more competitive and aim at acquiring higher and wider knowledge, experience, and qualifications.
