TEVET INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT CHEERS GOVERNMENT

 

"NORTEC Auto - Heavy Duty Workshop Construction Enhance Access and Quality Skills"

 

Government has continued to implement robust programmes through international collaborative ties with a focus to tranform the economy in uplifting skills training for quality and improve the infrastructure says Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati.

Speaking in Ndola during the ground breaking ceremony to mark the construction of an Automotive and Heavy Duty Repair extension workshop at the Northern Technical College (NORTEC), the Minister commended the initiative - support to enhance TEVET infrastructure at the courtesy of UNIDO, SIDA, and VOLVO through partnership to improve quality skills training.

Meanwhile, the Minister made reference to a practical mining sector, huge investment, that has largely committed to inject over Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars in skills development, a testimony realised in the Western and Copperbelt provinces. He believed there was a need to adequately prepare and equip energetic cadre of trainees in view of the mining huge investment in the TEVET sector so as to effectively deliver quality output services.

The Minister explained and alluded to the selection of Zambia to host the first ever 2025 World Skills Africa Competition, to take place on the soils of Africa, a step undertaken and arising from a competitive - vetted platform that resulted with an opportunity to host the renowned international event. He urged college management to steer collective efforts so as to push for the transformation agenda of skills development devised on a proactive preparation for the competition.

He said Government will continue to collaborate at lengthy with its partners and further strengthen relations currently enjoyed with UNIDO, SIDA, and VOLVO to broadly define challenges and tranform skills development through provision of the appropriate skills, equipment, and training tools.

The Minister encouraged the college to refine the curriculum, upgrade lecturers skillfully, and expose students to the modern industry. He further urged the college academia to interrogate issues surrounding access so as to enhance the pedagogy platform through the provision of effective skills training, equipment, and tools.

He said the Government set aside Seventy - Nine Billion Kwacha in the budget can help to to equip some trainees.

The Minister also urged the college mangement to productively make use of the CDF - Skills bursary funds a facility that President Hakainde Hichilema introduced to enhance skills training as the case, currently, NORTEC has recorded a highest - student enrollement standing at Two - Thousand students in Heavy Duty Equipment Automitive Skills training.

And speaking at the ground breaking event UNIDO Consultant William Goldsmith said the generosity and commitment of the people of Sweden has been instrumental in providing substantial funding towards construction of vocational skills training facilities in order to equip skills with the young people and for developmental programmes towards a success Global economy.

Mr. Goldsmith expressed gratitude to the Minister and the Government of Zambia for profound and dedication towards technology advancement and innovation a bedrock on which the project stood.

He said the project will create growth and provide for an economic bright future and a prosperous socio economic landscape of Zambia.

And in his remarks college Principal Martin Kasonso said construction of the Automotive and Heavy Equipment repair extension workshop project will deliver standalone workshops hence apart from training activities the workshops will provide for basic infrastructure to enhance on the college business enterprise in automobile servicing and repairs.

Principal Kasonso further explained that the workshops will also provide space for student's innovations and graduates incubation hubs.