Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is considering renaming the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to Vocational Training Centres.
Speaking at this year’s HATAB annual conference in Maun on Friday, Minister of Higher Education, Mr Prince Maele said the change would be to dispel the negative perception of TVET institutions as dumping ground for students who underperformed in secondary school.
He argued that the stigma discouraged students and negatively impacted the value of TVET programmes.
Mr Maele stated that the government planned to overhaul the TVET policy, shifting focus from producing mere workers to fostering entrepreneurship.
He emphasised the need to address the current funding model of the Higher and Technical Education and Development Company (HRDC) and secure active stakeholder involvement in the reform.
The minister highlighted a critical link between the country’s tourism sector growth and the quality of its skilled workforce pointing to a shortage of adaptable, innovative and skilled tourism professionals.
To address this, he proposed that vocational training schools be tailored to meet the practical demand of the tourism sector, achieved through collaboration between the private sector and government, to develop industry-relevant curricula.
The Education Training Programmes (ETPs) were also identified for review, as graduates are perceived inadequate for the modern workforce hence Mr Maele stressed the need for a fundamental mindset shift within TVET and a significant investment by government in the programme.
The minister announced the upcoming TVET pitso in July, intended to address the challenges facing TVET in the 21st century.
The conference will serve as a forum for discussion and finding solutions to modernise the institutions.
He also announced Maun Secondary School as a potential facility for tourism-related courses, reflecting a strategic focus on developing and supporting tourism activities in the area.
Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima also announced plans to review the 2019 Trade Act to simplify business operations.
A review of the Industrial Development Act of 2019 is also planned to streamline licensing procedures.
Mr Ntsima said government’s intention to implement smart border systems, to enhance the ease of movement for individuals, particularly to support Botswana’s tourism sector which the government recognised as a key driver of economic growth.
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