Human development experts encourage countries to implement Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to provide practical skills and knowledge to young citizens and supply skilled human capital to the manufacturing and industry sectors. According to sources, several developing countries are increasingly relying on TVET to achieve sustainable development as it plays crucial roles in providing training opportunities and career advancement for school leavers, as well as supplying the skilled manpower needed at different levels of the economy. The expectation is that these developed skills will usher in an era of self-reliance, enhancing the industrialization process in the absence of salaried employment.
As a growing nation aspired to achieve economic growth, Ethiopia has given special focus to TVET. Using the available resources the nation is providing TVET training for various Ethiopian youth. Equipped by TVET training the youth are filling the gaps in areas of industrialization, manufacturing and agricultural sectors to realize individual as well as national goals.
Regarding employment opportunity and skilled man power TVETs prepare individuals for employment by providing them with the specific skills and competencies required in various industries, they are filling skills gap and increasing employability. The practical nature of TVET programs allows individuals to acquire hands-on experience, making them more attractive to potential employers and increasing the likelihood of job placement.
In Ethiopia, various activities have been undertaken to implement TVET and positively impact the youth, making them productive contributors to nation-building and helping the nation achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2025.
The Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) has confirmed that over 600,000 youths will join TVET and attend regular programs this academic year. MoLS State Minister, Teshale Berecha (PhD), stated that TVET institutions have finalized preparations to receive 600,000 students who have just completed 12th grade under the regular program. He also mentioned that the country’s TVET system annually receives half a million students in regular programs, while another two million undertake short-term training in the institutions.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Simon Mulatu, a fourth-year BA program student at Ethiopian Technical University in Addis Ababa’s Electrical Electronics and Communication Department, expressed how the training has positively impacted his life. He stated that all teaching and learning activities focus on practical activities, enabling him to develop skills that he can utilize. Despite not having graduated, he is already engaged in running a small business due to the practical training he has gained, which has shifted his mindset away from seeking public employment. Simon hopes to establish his own enterprise and contribute to the workforce after graduation.
Regarding his family’s attitude towards his enrollment in the TVET college, Simon mentioned that initially they were not interested. However, after learning about the opportunities and the training approach, they changed their minds and are now supportive. Simon emphasized that through TVET, young people can foster an entrepreneurial mindset and receive training in areas such as business management, financial literacy, and marketing. Despite being capital-intensive, private and public TVET institutions are prepared to equip young people with the necessary skills to become self-employed and create job opportunities for themselves and others.
Simon believes that TVET equips trainees with capabilities that can broaden opportunities in life, instilling confidence and paving the way for a bright future. He emphasized that fostering an entrepreneurship mindset among citizens could contribute to economic development, reduce dependency on limited job opportunities, and promote social stability.
“In my view, TVET provides opportunities and hope for the youth to establish themselves, equipping them with the skills necessary to secure decent self-employment. I encourage students in higher education to consider joining TVET, as it offers a range of learning experiences relevant to the world of work through formal, non-formal, and informal contexts, emphasizing practical skills. Despite the increasing interest in TVET among students, parents, and the larger community, there is still a prevailing perception that TVET is the last resort for those who wish to pursue a post-secondary academic path. I believe that TVET should be considered as a valuable option alongside university education, as it has cultivated a number of successful entrepreneurs.”
On his part, Federal TVET Institute Director-General, Biruk Kedir (PhD), has affirmed the institute’s readiness to receive trainees in both regular and short-term training programs in the current academic year.
The Institute has the mandate to provide mentor training for industry technicians, TVET trainers, and leaders, and is currently preparing to offer training on various thematic areas starting from level six. In addition to the main center, the institute provides training in satellite facilities located in different parts of the country. Furthermore, a new enrollment policy has been put in place to expand the number of trainees.
Regarding TVET colleges in producing skilled man power, Dean of Sidama State, Kebado Construction and Industrial College, Daniel Teshome, said that the college has firm believe that investing on TVET is investing on the whole economy of the nation. For this reason, the college is welcoming new entry trainees. The college provides training in nine competency areas, including ICT hardware and network servicing, as well as construction masonry. The training programs are designed based on the demands of the local labor market, combining general knowledge, technologies, sciences, and practical skills relevant to the workplace.
He also highlighted the college’s collaboration with Yirga-alem Agro-Industrial Park to address the gaps in the demand and supply of skilled human power. Many graduates have acquired employable skills, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce in the manufacturing sector. They are running their own businesses in the Sidama State and beyond. To further prosper as a nation and improve citizens’ lifestyles, he emphasized the need to invest in the TVET sector.
He stressed that to achieve the ultimate goal of producing a future-ready workforce with high vocational skills and knowledge, it is vital to invest in infrastructure and resources, promote collaboration between TVET institutions and industries, and enhance access and outreach efforts.
The role of TVETs in Ethiopia’s growing economy and job creation is pivotal, as it contributes to economic development, fosters entrepreneurship, addresses the skills gap, and prepares individuals for productive employment in various sectors.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 2023
