TVET program to align training skills with real world demands

Good morning 😃🌞☀️. Let’s get into it.

In case you missed it, the recent TVET Pitso & Expo 2025 held in Gaborone, President Advocate Duma Boko, alongside key cabinet ministers, officially unveiled a renewed national commitment to transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into a driver of sustainable development and job creation.

The event brought together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society under one clear theme: repositioning TVET from a perceived fallback option into a cornerstone of Botswana’s economic strategy.

Main Points from the TVET Pitso & Expo 2025 (Gaborone)

1.Elevating TVET as a National Priority

• President Boko and ministers emphasized that TVET is not a fallback option, but a strategic pillar for sustainable economic development.

• TVET is viewed as critical to industrial growth, job creation, and infrastructure enhancement across key sectors like construction, healthcare, and ICT.

2.Strengthening Government Backing

• The government pledged support for practical measures—including student allowances, regulatory updates, and public awareness campaigns—to enhance TVET participation and reputation.

• Ministerial speeches stressed the importance of increased funding, tighter alignment with industry standards, and integration of digital and technical competencies.

3.Fostering Industry Partnerships

• A clear emphasis was placed on building closer links between training institutions and private sector employers.

• Aligning curricula with labour market demands was identified as essential to ensuring graduates are job-ready and can bolster entrepreneurial efforts.

4.Promoting Regional Collaboration

• Botswana is looking outward, adopting proven strategies from other African countries.

• Delegates referenced Ghana’s success—where TVET reforms increased enrollment and introduced technical universities offering degrees in fields like digital engineering—as a model to emulate.

5.Implementation Roadmap

• A consensus emerged on the need for a multi-pronged strategy:
  

  • Policy reform with frameworks that enhance TVET’s governance and accountability,

  • Infrastructure investment to build and upgrade technical institutions,

  • Curriculum redesign to ensure relevance to modern-era jobs,

  • Public outreach to position TVET as a respected career path, especially among youth and women.

Next Steps

1. Roll out increased stipends and scholarships for TVET learners.

2. Launch industry-led curriculum reviews and training of instructors to match workplace needs.

3. Implement awareness drives—through media and community engagement—to boost TVET’s image.

4. Track progress via measurable metrics like enrollment growth, graduate placement, and partnerships formed.

Source: BtvNews channel BW