By Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: Labour Minister Agness Nyalonje has described the newly launched Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) 2024-2030 strategic plan as a major milestone towards achieving Malawi 2063.

Nyalonje made the remarks Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of the plan, coined “Rethinking TEVET” - a blueprint that will guide the TEVET Authority in implementing its mandate of regulating, facilitating, and promoting TEVET as it seeks to contribute to the government’s development agenda.

Nyalonje highlighted that while the mandate of her Ministry is to develop and protect the labour force, TEVET has the role of fulfilling the first half of the mandate and added that the plan will also ensure students are well-equipped to deliver services in and outside the country.

“This is a very auspicious occasion for the labour sector because Malawi’s development can’t happen until we have skilled youth and, with this strategic plan, we should begin to witness improved skills for the needs of the industry and economy.

“We must focus on innovation, science, and technology because that is likely to be the growth area for human capital hence my ministry is working with TEVET and the Ministry of Education in order to infuse TEVET with the curriculum in primary and secondary as well as the teacher trainings,” said Nyalonje.

Executive Director for TEVET, Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, unpacked the theme “Rethinking TEVET” and noted that there is need to provide answers to hard-hitting questions.

“We need to ask ourselves why employers are not satisfied with our graduates; we need to rethink our target groups and how we let them access TEVET, among others,” he said.

Meanwhile, Executive Director for the Employment Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), George Khaki, pledged full support for the strategic plan, saying students make meaningful contributions to the industry.

“We are supporting the plan because, as employers, we are the ones contributing to TEVET through the levy we pay and also because the employers are in need of the skills that are being trained in the TEVET colleges,” he said.

Khaki, however, noted the existing gap where most graduates are not meeting the standards required by industries but added there is hope the pillars in the plan will address the gaps.