Africa-Press – Eswatini. There is a need to direct students towards skills needed by industries.
This was revealed by Mangaliso Mohammed from Eswatini Economic Policy and Analysis Research Centre (ESEPARC) during the opening of the 2022 National Career Expo Eswatini held at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Mbabane. The Career Expo is expected to last for four days.
Mohammed urged the representatives of Eswatini institutions to expose students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“In the next three-five years technology would have completely taken over so it is important for students to have ICT skills because they are needed in the new industries,” he said.
He added career guidance should be strengthened in high school.
“May I plead with companies to open internship trainings to engage students in TVET that will support the growth of the centres,” he said.
Sharon Martins from the US Embassy under Education United States of America Advisors Centre made a presentation on scholarships opportunities beyond Eswatini.
She said that their job was to give the interested students current and accurate information about studying in the USA. She added that there are 4 500 universities and campuses in the United States of America who are happy to have African students.
She said recently they have also noticed how most universities in the USA and African students had shown interest in courses that involve TVET.
“We provide the students with the opportunity to navigate the different universities in the USA, research on what they can study, the application processes, and search with them for scholarships,” Martins stated.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi on the other hand said that it was the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that the labour market is able to adequately meet the ever growing and diversifying demands of the socio- economic activities of the kingdom of Eswatini.
“It has been observed that skills supply in the economy does not meet industry requirement, hence the high rate of youth unemployment,” he said.
Buthelezi explained that the Eswatini National Skills Audit Report 2022 identified skills gaps, mismatch, opportunities and deficiencies in the labour market.
Carried
Standing in for the Minister of Education and training was the Undersecretary schools Manager Lungelo Nhlengetfwa, who said the ministry of education and training in collaboration with the ministry of labour and social security were jointly hosting a virtual National Career Expo with the aim of giving learners the opportunity to learn from experts in the business arena and young entrepreneurs who have created a niche for themselves in the different career fields or businesses. He stated that the theme of this annual career fair was very critical in the 21st Century as the Eswatini National Skill Report (2022) indicated that there is a need to steer learners toward scarce careers and skills.
“In our contemporary world with the rise of new technologies in biomedicine, micro fabrication, robotics and artificial intelligence our young learner needs the ability to understand, apply data and develop solutions to complex problems, as such we need to be empowered with this important life skill,” he said. Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga said it gave them great pleasure as the ministry responsible for the youth to see different players within government and out of government joining hands to help guide young people towards creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves.
Unshakable
He said it was clear and without doubt that young people had the unshakable desire to make it in business, and go on to create job opportunities for others. Bulunga further urged young people to take inspiration from business stories stating that there was life, success and sustainability in entrepreneurship.
He explained that since the revival of the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) and first disbursement in 2019, the Youth Fund has disbursed about E11 million to support over 200 youth-owned businesses, creating more than 500 jobs to date. He said these businesses are in a variety of fields including services, agriculture, ICT and more.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
