INAUGURAL TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION (TVET) PITSO HELD SUCCESSFULLY IN PALAPYE

Technical and Vocational Training and Education (TVET) is globally identified as an Education Sub-Sector that is key in driving any country’s human capital agenda.

TVET can drive the local economy as well as make the economy thrive in a competitive world, therefore, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) in collaboration with Ministry of Employment, Labour, Productivity and Skills Development (MELSD) and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOTE) held a TVET Pitso from 20th - 21st February 2019 in Palapye. 

The main purpose of the consultative forum was to bring together all key stakeholders at a national level in order to come up with interventions that will transform the quality of TVET in Botswana and make it one of the key drivers of the national economy under the theme, ‘Nurturing and Managing TVET in a Global & Competitive Economy.  In his welcome remarks, Dr Raphael Dingalo, the Chief Executive Officer of HRDC accentuated that the 2019 TVET Pitso is envisioned to

formulate appropriate multi-sectorial and co-ordinated policies and strategies intended to enhance the TVET that will ultimately improve job creation initiatives in Botswana.

Dr Dingalo affirmed that, ‘‘Different approaches to TVET and employment creation are an essential pre-requisite for comparative analysis in order for countries to strive for on-going improvement in their economic performance through the education and training system of which Botswana is no exception to this requirement’’.

Some key sub - themes that were identified included: recognition of TVET; TVET Funding; quality and relevance  of TVET to labour market needs and contribution of TVET in the national economy.

Renowned speakers in the field of TVET were invited from outside the country so that participants could learn from international experiences in accelerated job-creation served by revitalised educational practices.  When officially opening the TVET Pitso, Dr Theophilius Mooko, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoTE) observed that, ‘‘The theme of the Pitso was very relevant especially that we live in a global village and every country must come up with interventions coupled with the appropriate skills to drive its national economy and to find its right seating in the global competitive economy’’.

Dr Mooko stated that TVET has proved to be fit for the purpose of developing the right competencies needed by all the sectors of the economy.

Furthermore, Dr Mooko reiterated that the TVET Pitso will promote participation of the industry in TVET reforms, promote the recognition and uptake of TVET by prospective learners and most importantly advocate for quality and relevant TVET to enhance graduates’ employability.

Mrs Pearl Ramokoka, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development (MELSD) indicated that Botswana as a country needs policies and programmes that will shape its TVET in line with the skills needs of the industry.

‘‘Our strategies should ensure that we build a development based human resource capital, especially in sectors that prove to be key to our economy, namely: Agriculture, Mining, Tourism, Manufacturing and Commerce’’ indicated Ms Ramokoka.

She further advised that Botswana’s human resource development plans including those within the TVET sector should be aggressive, designed to produce skilled people who are innovative and willing to exploit the available resources to generate more jobs and create more wealth.

The world is moving from a resource based economy to a knowledge based economy. The advent impact of the Fourth (4th) Industrial Revolution has even necessitated the need for Botswana to prioritise TVET because knowledge creation and the application of knowledge is central to economic growth in any country today especially that knowledge has now become the major source of wealth.

Some of the key recommendations form the TVET Pitso in line the sub - themes included; creation of a revolving fund to capacitate and resource initiatives in the TVET Sector and that Alumnis should be encouraged to contribute to TVET funding; promote TVET to be part of general education; expedite establishment of the Teaching Council and enforce Teacher registration and licensing just like Nursing and Engineering professions.

News Date: 
Thursday, February 21, 2019