Malawi to host 2023 IVETA conference in November
Malawi will host the 2023 International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) to be held from November 14-16 in the lakeshore district of Mangochi — which it last hosted in 2012.
The conference, to be held under the theme: ‘Modernizing TVET for Sustainable Job Creation and Economic Transformation’, which is about how technical and vocational education and training can be modernized to create sustainable jobs and contribute to economic transformation.
A statement from the association says the international body is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of vocational education and training wherever it exists and needed.
The conference aims to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss, network, share best practices and developments in TVET and skills development sector.
“This is important because it ensures that TVET graduates have the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for which in turn enhances employability and skills utilization hence boosting economic growth.”
Meanwhile, a joint study by the World Bank, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNESCO, that was released on July 12, indicates that TVET needs to adapt to globalization, technological progress, demographic transformation, and climate change.
On its website, ILO News) said TVET systems in many low- and middle-income countries do not match skills and labour market needs and are unprepared to meet the large rise in demand for TVET in the coming years.
The study was launched ahead of World Youth Skills Day that falls on July 15) under the headline: Building Better Formal TVET Systems: Principles and Practice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries — a report which was described as the first rigorous global analysis of TVET challenges and reforms in developing economies.
The report says in the context of rapidly changing labour markets and evolving skills needs due to globalization, technological progress, demographic transformation, and climate change, the need for well-performing TVET is even greater to ensure smooth job transitions.
This is especially critical as global youth unemployment stands at 16 per cent in 2022, much higher than the overall unemployment rate. These averages mask large disparities across countries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
However, despite its high potential, training often falls short of expectations in low- and middle-income countries, says the report. This is largely due to difficulties facing learners, unsupported teachers, and weak incentives for providers.
Last month, when Malawi’s State-owned Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Training Authority (TEVETA) provided apprenticeship tools worth K900 million to the 2020 cohort of apprentices and technical collages across the country, Minister of Labour, Agnes NyaLonje said youths in the country are a biggest national resource with a huge potential if given the right support.
“Through education, including TEVET’s, there is opportunity to empower young people to act as agents of their own personal and national development,” she said at the handover of the tools at Kapondo Community Technical College in Mchinji.
She emphasized that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals advocates youth-centric approaches to development, adding that the SDG framework pays attention to youth education, health, employment, empowerment, security, equality and participation.
And the Agenda 2063 of the African Union echoes the same while at national level the MW2063 national vision is also youth-focused as it espouses the ideals of youth inclusion, shared prosperity and commitment to addressing the key challenges and barriers to youth development.
She further said the 2013 TEVET policy emphasizes the need for the system to be more accessible, responsive and relevant to the labour market by enhancing the entrepreneurial culture and increasing production and productivity in both formal and informal sectors.
However, the Minister said to ensure that TEVET graduates are relevant to labour market, the policy underscores the provision of adequate and relevant training equipment and materials.
The tools were provided to assist the TEVET graduates to become self-employed by growing their businesses; thereby employ others while those for the college itself were expected to facilitate and improve apprenticeship training — allowing the students to have an opportunity to access relevant hands-on training in colleges as well as TEVET graduates to apply themselves more effectively within the industry.
The Minister also laid a foundation stone to start the construction of the Kapondo Community Technical College and in his remarks, TEVETA Board chairperson, Don Whayo said the institution fully recognizes government’s commitment to the promotion of technical and vocational education and training.
“We recognize that government has entrusted us to champion quality technical and vocational training which will enable young people start their own business ventures,” he said.
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