Mukono starts free vocational training to fight unemployment
MUKONO - Due to the high unemployment rates, the district is widely associated with criminal acts like witchcraft, theft and robbery. However, the district authorities have adopted an Indian-model vocational training scheme to reduce unemployment among the youth.
By Joel Ogwang
MUKONO - Due to the high unemployment rates, the district is widely associated with criminal acts like witchcraft, theft and robbery. However, the district authorities have adopted an Indian-model vocational training scheme to reduce unemployment among the youth.
The scheme, which is free to participants, targets O and A’ Level school drop-outs.
The LC5 chairman, Francis Lukooya, says: “I learnt this idea during my visit to India. It is a cheap scheme through which the youth can be empowered.â€
Lukooya says it is important to have vocational training to accommodate students who cannot make it to the university.
“The high number of students who cannot make it to university on private or government scheme should not be left idle,†he says.
Modus operandi
As a condition for taking up contracts at the district, contractors have to train youths in enterprises they engage in.
“The scheme will involve training on job, before the students are examined,†Lukooya says.
Registration
Under the scheme, the youth will not pay registration fees, but are required to have their O and A’ Level certificates.
The students will mainly work on construction sites to learn practical skills like building, mixing sand and cement, laying bricks, among others.
“They (youths) will also get computer training,†says Livingstone Zziwa, the deputy LC5 chairman.
Assessment
There will be a team of professionals that will monitor the progress of the youths after eight months.
Under a partnership with Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, the youth will qualify for the award of certificates.
“We will refer excellent performers to Nakawa, where they will sit UNEB examinations for the award of certificates and diplomas,†Lukooya says.
However, the youth will not be earning a salary during their training period since the scheme is free.
Enrollment
At least 870 youth have enrolled this year and registration will take place every year.
Lukooya says : “If we can empower all youths in the district with various skills, then we will have something to account for, for the five years we will were mandated to govern the district.â€
Currently, plans are underway to ask manufacturing companies like Coca Cola, SCOUL and UGMA that operate in the district to embrace the scheme.
Lukooya said they also have other programmes like model villages for farmers, which are aimed at improving farmers’ skills.
Under this programme, demonstration farms will be set up in the 145 parishes that make-up Mukono and various crops grown in the selected areas for demonstration purposes.
“We have earmarked sh600m for the scheme,†Lukooya says.
MUKONO - Due to the high unemployment rates, the district is widely associated with criminal acts like witchcraft, theft and robbery. However, the district authorities have adopted an Indian-model vocational training scheme to reduce unemployment among the youth.
The scheme, which is free to participants, targets O and A’ Level school drop-outs.
The LC5 chairman, Francis Lukooya, says: “I learnt this idea during my visit to India. It is a cheap scheme through which the youth can be empowered.â€
Lukooya says it is important to have vocational training to accommodate students who cannot make it to the university.
“The high number of students who cannot make it to university on private or government scheme should not be left idle,†he says.
Modus operandi
As a condition for taking up contracts at the district, contractors have to train youths in enterprises they engage in.
“The scheme will involve training on job, before the students are examined,†Lukooya says.
Registration
Under the scheme, the youth will not pay registration fees, but are required to have their O and A’ Level certificates.
The students will mainly work on construction sites to learn practical skills like building, mixing sand and cement, laying bricks, among others.
“They (youths) will also get computer training,†says Livingstone Zziwa, the deputy LC5 chairman.
Assessment
There will be a team of professionals that will monitor the progress of the youths after eight months.
Under a partnership with Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, the youth will qualify for the award of certificates.
“We will refer excellent performers to Nakawa, where they will sit UNEB examinations for the award of certificates and diplomas,†Lukooya says.
However, the youth will not be earning a salary during their training period since the scheme is free.
Enrollment
At least 870 youth have enrolled this year and registration will take place every year.
Lukooya says : “If we can empower all youths in the district with various skills, then we will have something to account for, for the five years we will were mandated to govern the district.â€
Currently, plans are underway to ask manufacturing companies like Coca Cola, SCOUL and UGMA that operate in the district to embrace the scheme.
Lukooya said they also have other programmes like model villages for farmers, which are aimed at improving farmers’ skills.
Under this programme, demonstration farms will be set up in the 145 parishes that make-up Mukono and various crops grown in the selected areas for demonstration purposes.
“We have earmarked sh600m for the scheme,†Lukooya says.