ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is embarking on various policy and structural shifts to garner a global standard Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) hub, the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) said.
Addis Ababa City Administration Labor and Skills Bureau held a panel discussion yesterday in connection with the ongoing 14th City-wide TVET exhibition week under the theme of “TVET for sustainable development”.
MoLS State Minister Teshale Berecha (PhD) said that the government has made commendable reforms on policies and frameworks and incorporated vocational training in the curriculum thereby registering notable outcomes.
Teshale has also stated that the country has recently approved a qualification framework and policy environment revision of the sector’s strategy to excel in its performance.
“To leverage the country’s immense potential in the sector, the ministry is delivering cooperative training and services to produce responsibility and equip every fellow citizen with their single skills in any field to avoid expectations and income generation.”
Emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperative training to improve the quality of training and better resource mobilization endeavors, he has called on pertinent vocational institutions in the capital to actively engage in the ongoing development projects in the metropolis to make it livable in the continental and global arena.
Similarly, the country is currently participating in skill competitions at the continental level. In addition, as an international competition association member, he said, “It is facilitating efforts to take part at the international level, which help garner global standard skilled labor force.”
He said, “Since recently, the TVET system has been increasing both in size and quality. Accordingly, there are over 1,500 technical and skill institutions, 30,000 teachers in the sector with various vocational trainers across the country.”
Federal TVET Institute Leadership and Management Department Head Abebaw Lemma remarked that the country need to comprehend streamlined outcome-based training and learning activities to support the learning outcomes.
He further emphasized that TVET should feature outcome-based school training and end with customers’ needs and evaluation- based industry works standard. It is also the bedrock of socioeconomic development and to meet the ever-increasing number of citizens to ensure gainful employment.
“Competent trainees should fulfill task skills, competency and task management skills, and job environment skills. Lack of proper customization, low involvement of industries and private sector trainees and poor industry exposure are critical challenges that are impacting the sector,” he remarked.
Nowadays, Abebaw emphasized that competency assessments have become the sector’s culture. And outcome-based TVET requires active engagements of private sectors or industries.
Industry, Urban and Infrastructure Policy Research Center Head Amare Matebu (PhD) stated that Ethiopia’s labor force is ever growing rapidly; therefore, it should produce quality skilled power to bridge the demand and supply chain.
Emphasizing producing quality and upgrading skills, Amare elucidated that TVET is highly required to be a fit in all sectors to facilitate technology transfer through research and development.
Emphasizing the private sector’s role, he said, a teacher’s skill or quality is an engine for the real development of the sector.
On his part, Senior Policy Advisor Antonios Philiche remarked that an effective training system and workforce bring a strong national economy.
He has also underscored the need to revise training organizations and customize global countries’ experiences accordingly.
Moreover, he reiterated that prime attention should be given to the sector to build a vibrant economy and industrialization journey.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2024
