20 Nov 2024

As youth unemployment remains pressing social issue, the government intends to put job creation, skills development and youth empowerment at the forefront.

President Advocate Duma Boko said this in his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) in Gaborone on Tuesday, adding such would ensure that young Batswana had opportunities to prosper.

“We will launch nationwide vocational training programmes and create apprenticeship opportunities to empower young people with hands-on skills for workforce,” he said.

Additionally, President Boko said small business grants would be provided to encourage youth entrepreneurship and innovation.

As for strengthening education and job market linkages, President Boko highlighted that through such initiatives as Government and Enterprise National Initiative for Employment, government would ensure that the education system aligned with the needs of the job market.

“We will also provide resources for young people to acquire the skills most demanded by employers in emerging sectors”, he said.

President Boko also said National Social Housing strategy would be launched to address both housing shortages and youth unemployment.

He said such an initiative would employ thousands of young people in the construction sector, while providing much needed affordable housing to citizens. Ends