GOVT invests US$10 million in TEVET Institutions – brags Félix Chipota Mutati

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…in procuring training equipment that has been distributed in institutions

By Hellen Bwalya

Minister of Technology and Science Felix Chipota Mutati says in order to improve the quality of practical training delivery, government as so far invested over US$10 million in procuring training equipment that has been distributed to all Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) institutions in Zambia.

Meanwhile,TEVETA Board Chairperson Ngoza Chibesakunda Nkwabilo said that continuous collaboration with industry and other stakeholders is central to the ongoing quality improvements of skills development.

Mr. Mutati says the utilization of the newly procured equipment requires upgrading of some trainers to make them become familiar with new technologies.

Speaking during a Friday 22nd December 2023 Breakfast interaction with different Stakeholders, Mr. Mutati said an investment of more than K3.4 million in order to address the need of trainers in upgrading qualifications in the TEVET sector to improve training delivery and implementation of new/ revised curriculum including industrial attachment for staff.

Mutati says the capacity building programme benefited fifty-one (51) trainers in different skills areas; Agriculture, Construction, Information Communication Technology name but three.

“The orientation of TEVET towards hands-on and Entrepreneurial skills provides opportunities for youths to take advantage of job opportunities including entrepreneurship,’ said Mutati.

Mutati is elated over a commitment evident by expanding the Constituency Development Fund _CDF to include a skills bursary for skills development which has seen a surge in the TEVET enrollments from around 38,000 in 2021 to more than 95, 800 in 2023, about 50% of them being females.

Furthermore Mutati says Zambia has won her bid to host the Skills Competition for Africa (WSA 2025) which will be held in Livingstone March 2025.

“The objective of hosting and participating in international skills competitions is to raise the profile of TEVET and skilled people and show the importance skills in national and personal development,” said Mutati as he
commended the leadership at Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for ensuring that interested youths are sponsored through the CDF Skills Bursary to take up TEVET programmes in TEVETA registered training institutions.

Mutati says government has partnered with Kegem Mining Limited to construct Chapula Trades Training Institute in Lufwanyama at an estimated cost of 40 million Kwacha.

On Tuesday, 22nd September, 2022, Mutati appointed TEVETA Board with a five (5) pillar mandate aligned to relevance of skills, value addition, digital skills, and research, quality and development (R&D) in skills development.

During the inauguralation, TEVETA director general Cleopus Takaiza recommitted tackling youth unemployment, acquisition of employability skills and entrepreneurship.

Aside from Nkwabilo, representing Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE), the Vice Chairperson is Captain Charles Musenge, with Rev. Fr. Dr. Leonard Namuhumba (from the Conference of the Catholic Bishops),
Dr. Twambo Hachibamba (from University of Zambia), Ms. Linda Moono (Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Businsses Association), Mr. Cyprian Mayamba (from Ministry of Labour and Social’s National Productivity Department), Mr. James Choma (Ministry of Education), Mr. Guest Mugala (National Science and Technology Council), Ms. Lillian Chiloti (representing Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and a representative from Technology and Science Ministry.

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