News From Parliament

Govt seeks to improve vocational training access

THE government has announced plans to introduce vocational training in 25 community development institutes countrywide that would follow the syllabus of the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA).

Some 1,250 candidates are expected to be admitted beginning January next year, according to the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Ms Sophia Simba.

Presenting her ministry's budget estimates for 2012/2013, Ms Simba said the vocational training would shape the youth into employment, self employment and further their career. The minister asked the House to approve a budget of 15.6bn/- for the fiscal year 2012/2013 out of which 12.2bn/- would be allocated for recurrent expenditures while 8.7bn/- will be used for development projects.

And in a bid to ensure there is a conducive learning and teaching environment, the minister said the government has plans in place to rehabilitate the 25 institutes by among other things constructing five workshops which will be fitted with adequate equipment. 

During the financial year 2011/2012, the ministry prepared a programme on extending appropriate technologies through community development colleges in order to equip the citizen with means of improving their incomes. "Until March this year, a total of 52 trainers were coached on simple technologies such as brick making machines, keeping layers and processing of fruits and vegetables," the minister told the National Assembly.

She said the government would ensure that the technology is spread to as many people as possible to enable them make a living and improve their living standards. The minister expressed optimism that vocational training was an important tool towards empowering the people through self employment or being employed.

Some 32,133 people, including 15,652 women and 16,501 men have received vocational training at 55 community development colleges during the last financial year, Ms Sophia remarked. "I continue to appeal to those who have undergone training to join forces and form groups so that they can easily access loans from financial institutions," she said.

Presenting views of the opposition in the House, the Deputy Shadow Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Ms Conchester Rwamlaza, decried the shortage of community development officers. "There is a critical shortage of community development officers, particularly at ward level, and this makes it difficult to monitor development projects in the respective area," she said.

Adding; "Puzzling enough, there are lot of these officers who graduate from community development colleges every year, the government should consider employing them soon after they complete their studies."  She tasked the government to explain plans at hand for hiring community development officers to curb the shortage.