Africa-Press – Lesotho. Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Lesotho (LUCT) has introduced Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes with the intention to support the
Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) Vocational Department (TVD) to empower Basotho. TVET is a program that comprises of formal and informal learning for work-related education.
It is intended to develop the much needed industry-related skills among the workforce to fuel economic transformation. Speaking at the launch of TVET,
LUCT Vice Chancellor Advocate Tefo Macheli indicated that the programme enables students to acquire knowledge and skills from basic advanced levels across a
wide range of institutional and work settings with a diverse socio-economic context. He added that it is set to provide students with the opportunity to
transfer from vocational to academic programmes. “LUCT therefore offers four courses under the TVET programmes; certificate in Business Information Technology, Certificate in Architecture Technology, Certificate in Graphic
Design, Certificate in Marketing and Certificate in Innovative Travel and Tourism,” Macheli stated. He pointed out that that by launching this programme
it means they are expanding access to education and contributing in the development of Lesotho’s economy, he mentioned that all LUCT worldwide are offering TVET programmes.
Meanwhile, LUCT Director Quality Assurance Ntlaloe Ntlaloe explained that this development was inspired by the realization of a gap in access to higher education.
“There were many students from Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE) who
could not transition into tertiary level because of just a subject. TVET programmes will therefore bridge the technical and vocational skill gap in the labor market of Lesotho.
The other gap is on the skills that are required in the labor market, LUCT want to bridge the gap by offering programmes that enable people who are already in the field
to come for improvement of their skills at their own time while they are still producing with the skill they have acquired at work,” he said Ntlaloe appreciated TVD which made it very
easy for LUCT to compile documents for submission and review for accreditation of the five programmes that have been granted accreditation. He informed that LUCT
Lesotho was also given the mandate as part of African Campuses by the Founder and President of LUCT the late Tan Sri Dato ‘ Sri Paduka Dr Lim Kok Wing, that all African
Campuses must fully get TVET programmes as this is a crucial sector for developing countries since it is more skills based. For his part, TVD Director
Phae Makhele said they are getting to the stage where Lesotho is diversifying its labor force. He indicated that there is a need for collaboration, the skills required in the market are different
from the market of yesterday. “It is not only on the qualification inflations that we have had problems and call that qualification inflation. 20 years ago when one had acquired a Junior Certificate (J.
C) one was employable anywhere actually one was in demand. The inflation raised the qualification, we have seen that the qualifications inflation alone is not responsible enough.
Diversity of skills is pre-requisite hence we see the TVET programmes in the university that was the very first thing that was quite important for us to
note,” he stated. Makhele added that they are living and surviving on the knowledgeable economy time and noted that without proper knowledge one cannot function, every program or profession has to be backed-up by the required knowledge also he socio economic issues that one wants or even the market needs require knowledge.
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