By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, February 25, Mana: Ministry is  currently implementing various initiatives  aimed at improving efficiency and performance of the ministry.

Minister of labour, Vitumbiko Mumba, made the remarks at a pres briefing in Lilongwe on Monday emphasising government’s commitment to education and technical skills development.

He disclosed the ministry’s plans to establish agriculture technical colleges to support President Chakwera’s vision of making Malawi a self-reliant nation.

He said such institutions will enhance vocational training opportunities and equip young people with essential skills.

"My ministry is establishing four centres of vocational excellence focusing on agriculture mechanisation at Lilongwe Technical College, renewable energy at Mzuzu Technical College, marine transport and operations at Salima Technical College and tourism at Malawi Institute of Tourism.

“With the help of the EU-Zantchito Project, my ministry has also started offering artisanal small scale mining course at Ngara Community Technical College to support the growing mining sector in the country,” he said.

He underscored the need to promote girls' education, revealing that over 6,000 female students in technical colleges are currently benefiting from full bursaries covering tuition, examination fees, transport, and accommodation, an initiative with support from the World Bank.

According to Mumba, the ministry is expanding programs in technical colleges by introducing courses in renewable energy, mining, and boat assembling, particularly at Salima Technical College.

To further boost agricultural mechanization, Mumba said the ministry plans to acquire over 500 hectares of land to establish an agricultural technical college which will train technicians to support large scale farming and modern agricultural practices.

"Considering that Malawi is an agro based economy, and government is implementing mega farms and commercialization, the coming in of these initiatives, has introduced demand in qualified agricultural technicians. Therefore, the agriculture technical college will foster agriculture mechanization, food processing and value addition,” Mumba said.

In order to increase access to skills attainment, Ministry of Labour has introduced double streams in the enrolment of apprentices in technical colleges and has extended national selection of apprentices to 14 community technical colleges from the initial 2,575 to 7,256 per year

The ministry is also investing in infrastructure development to increase the intake further.

Currently, with support from the World Bank all the seven national technical colleges have been given a grant of K2.8 billion each while the 30 community technical colleges and community skills development centres have each been given a grant of K500,000,000.