Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) discipline is one of the best fields of study that could help nations in pulling out many citizens out of poverty through equipping them with the desired knowledge and skills for employment and run own business.
The area enables many students to get hands-on training, build up their own knowledge and skills, and will create opportunities to become entrepreneurs and make their own bread.
Well-established system and strategy in the TVET sector could let nations build competent and self-reliant citizens who can substantially contribute to the economic and social development of the country, thereby improving the livelihoods of all.
Tadele Ayenew is Training Development Directorate Director at Addis Ababa TVET and Technology Development Bureau. As he stated, the Bureau is working diligently focusing on creating competent, motivated, adaptable and innovative workforce.
The Bureau is working joining hands with city’s Urban Job Creation and Food Security Agency. Each occupational standard is designed based on “outcome-based-training approach that is arranged in line with the national occupational standards and identifies the demand of the labor force in the market.
The Bureau values and acknowledges the role of skilled human capital with regard to ensuring nation’s development.
The population is growing by around two million annually, putting tremendous strains on the country’s resource base, challenging the ability to deliver services and winning the labor market. Hence, equipping the coming generation with technical and vocational education is a remedy to curb challenges and ensure the prosperity of the nation.
Currently, in the formal program 23,593 and over 40 thousand the informal program is attending TVET training. As well, eleven thousand new entry trainees are attending their education in TVET institutions and are entrusted with the production of competent and skilled manpower and efficient technology.
Currently, the Bureau is working in collaboration with all stakeholders; and it has developed a document that assesses the labor market. In this regard; the industry is the prime stakeholders and SMEs are part taking in designing the demand of the document.
Of this year 5008 graduates, 2270 employed and 225 trainees organized under various associations to meet the growing demands in the market and running their own business.
According to him, TVET institutions are gearing efforts by producing competent and employable workforces for the labor market, enhancing graduates’ competitiveness in the economic sectors and paving the way for those who seek to be self-employed.
Various Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) fields are receiving essential trainings on Kaizen philosophy, skills development, and modification of technologies and entrepreneurship over the last six months.
While, talking the response of industries with regard to accepting apprentices and engaging them in activities that enable trainees develop the right knowledge skills, the Director said: “Though, improvement is seen from time to time, the participation of companies in accepting trainees for cooperative training is still a challenge that needs to be addressed through shared responsibility of stakeholders.”
However, the Bureau is working to boost the participation of industries in accepting apprentices and engaging them in the practical knowledge and skills that would make trainees competitors in the labor market.
The trainees get 80 and 20 percent practical and theoretical knowledge in the TVET; and let them practice at private and public industries through cooperative trainings. “We are witnessing that many are benefitting from the trainings and they are becoming entrepreneurs and running their own business.”
Besides lessons on technology modification and entrepreneurship, entrants to the TVET fields get valuable lessons on Kaizen philosophy and transfer of technology which targets import substitutions.
Positively noting, the progress of trainees in joining the TVETs and the demand to scale up the awareness towards TVET of the society, he said the Bureau is working along with pertinent stakeholders. Addis Ababa TVET institutions are relatively equipped with various inputs and human capital but the number of trainees is not at the required level.
The TVET centers in Addis Ababa are capable of delivering training to over 35 thousands of trainees in regular program per annum in a range of occupations auto mechanics, hotel and hospitality, garment, textile and leather manufacturing, drafting and survey fields among others.
Gofa Industrial College Dean Tsegaye Adugna for his part noted that, TVET is instrumental in impacting the youth.
The College is offering training to 1200 trainees in the regular program; and five thousand students in short term training in 11 departments.
“The trainees are joining the work world through employment and entrepreneurship. There is a favorable relation between the entrepreneurs and the college and that gives us the energy to enhance efforts in delivering quality education and services.”
Sintayehu Molla is one of the graduates of Gofa Industrial College. He graduated in auto engine service. As he told to The Ethiopian Herald, he was a trainee in the College in Auto Mechanical Department; and at this time he is running his own business.
“I have had the culture of saving since my entry; and now I am able to commence my own business, generate income and even create jobs for about ten fellow citizens. The TVET has impacted my life positively and made me self-reliant and progressive.”
Stating his dream of being one of the leading entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and the great opportunities TVETs offered to all, he advised the youth to be smart enough and join the TVETs.
BY MENGISTEAAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2022
