By Tikondane Vega , MANA
Minister of Labour, Skills and innovations Lilian Patel said she was impressed with the role technical colleges are playing in the country saying this is the only way to empower the country’s youth through skills developments.
The Minister said this at Milonga Technical College in Thyolo on Thursday during her visit to the College as part of her familiarization tour since was appointed the Minister responsible a couple of weeks ago.
She said for example, Milonga Technical College which its intake continues to grow every year has proved that the country has potential to train more youths in technical skills that the country requires in order to develop.
Patel said to economically empower the youths, government has taken the right step by ensuring that each district should have a technical college because the country could only develop if it invests in skilled labour force.
“Government was determined to empower the sector knowing that no country can develop without skills development hence the need to impart technical skills to the youths across the country regardless of their affiliations.
“Technical colleges programme has potential to transform the country economy because it can offer employment to many youths and becomes financially independent, this is what the current government is looking forward,” she said.
The Minister said there was no doubt that if youths are empowered technically, they could become productive even in their homes.
She said her office would review all plans for technical colleges in order to accommodate emerging issues that are currently coming up and were not considered during the first planning like construction of halls, adding of staff houses among other services.
Board Chairperson for Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Trust (TEVET) Gilbert Chilinde said currently technical skills are at high demand in the country and many people are looking for that.
He said it was against this background that TEVET was now training people through informal sector grouping where people could still get other skills and given certificate of recognition according to the standards of their work.
“Due to shortage of place in technical colleges not everybody can be accommodated. For example others are failing to go because they do not have Malawi School Certificate of Education. Such people are being trained through informal sector groupings where interested people agree to come together and start learning according to their capabilities,” Chilinde said.
Principal for Milonga Technical College, Lawson Soka said the school was getting overwhelming response from youth due to its good reputation and programmes being offered.
Currently, the school offers several courses including electrical installation and electronics, tailoring and fashion design, carpentry and joinery, motorcycle mechanics, welding and fabrication, Information communication technology among other courses.
