Government certifies the informally skilled

By Gloria Nakajubi

The Ministry of Education, through the Directorate of Industrial Training, has adopted a system through which members of the informal sector will be given a formal certification for their skills.

The Workers’ Practically-Acquired Skill (PAS) will be awarded to those who prove competent in a particular skill after a thorough assessment exercise. The certification was developed with regulation from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. Members of the informal sector include carpenters, welders and hair dressers.

Christian Schniepper, the project coordinator for Swiss Contact, whose organisation developed the PAS, said the certificate is meant to facilitate the relationship between employers and employees since it highlights one’s competencies.

David Lukwago, the board chairman of Skilling Uganda, also noted that the PAS would encourage people to engage in the skilling trainings, assured of recognition.

“It does not matter where one acquired the skills; as long as one can be tested and one’s expertise verified, one will qualify for the PAS,” he said.

The first batch of informal sector practitioners, who had successfully undergone the assessment exercise were recently awarded certificates at Sharing Hall in Nsambya, Kampala.

Handing over the PAS to the successful candidates in the hair and beauty industry, trade minister Amelia Kyambadde urged the participants to keep upgrading their skills to remain competitive in the market.