16 Feb 2025

Minister of Higher Education says the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) has the potential to develop skills and foster innovation, reduce youth unemployment and diversify the country’s economy.  

Speaking during a meeting with Maun Technical College (MTC) management in Maun on Saturday, Mr Prince Maele said he had seen the value in TVET.

“I have decided to be bias towards TVET sector because I believe the emphasis had been directed to the wrong institutions and I call on you to join hands with the ministry to transform this important sector. I have seen the value in TVET and if we can push it, our economy can be private led unlike today where it is led by the government,” he said.

Furthermore, he said clustering TVET institutions was the way to go hence they intended to transform MTC into be a hospitality and tourism centre of excellence while Ghanzi brigade to be considered for a centre of excellence for beef production.

Currently, he said the ministry was stretching resources saying clustering of institutions could be the best solution to address issues of shortage of staff and resources among others.

He cited the Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology saying it was doing well in jewellery design and manufacturing. The college, he said was producing quality products and learners.

He also stressed the need for collaboration and partnerships noting that national and international partnerships were very important, saying the Oodi College had collaborated with a French College; a partnership that aimed to provide the youth with skills in jewellery design and manufacturing.

Also, he urged MTC management to forge partnerships saying the Francistown Technical College had collaborated with Botswana Power Corporation, which had absorbed 95 of the learners involved in installing power lines.

“This is the beauty of partnerships and collaboration and I believe since you are in a tourism hub, you can also identify potential partners in your area. These collaborations are critical because they also help on issues of relevancy, internship and attachment of learners,” Mr Maele said.

Meanwhile, Mr Maele, who also toured Maun Senior Secondary School Hospitality and Tourism department, said while govenment had intendend to build a hospitality facility at the Maun Technical College, it would be a duplication with what Maun secondary school was already offering.

“To avoid duplication we can consider signing an Memorandum of Understanding with Maun secondary school to ensure our learners make use of the facility to enhance their learning. This is a beautiful facility that could also add value to the hospitality industry,” he said.

Maun secondary school has state-of-the-art facility offering hospitality and tourism studies and the project is part of the multiple pathways programme focused on strengthening skills development and improving quality, relevance, equity and access to education. ENDS