Vocational trainers tipped on refresher courses

By Clare Muhindo

AN official in the Ministry of Education Science Technology and Sports (MOESTS) has said that tutors in vocational training institutions need to take refresher courses, in order to keep up with new technology and trends.

Sarah Namuli-Tamale, the Commissioner Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) made the statement during an open day exhibition at Nakawa Vocational Training institute (NVTI) in Kampala.

Namuli said many of the teachers in vocational training institutes are still stuck with old technology, making it hard for the public to change their attitude towards vocational training.

“Many people still perceive vocational training as education for failures, and this will not change if teachers do no undergo refresher training,” she said.

She added that managers of institutes too need to be continuously refreshed, in order to be able to choose the relevant equipment for their equipment.

This was in reference to the Principal of NVTI who said that tutors at his institute are often taken to japan for refresher courses.

Fewer females in vocational institutes

Godfrey Muwanga the Principal of NVTI noted that there are fewer females at the institute compared to males, and attributed this ratio to the cost of the course.

“We have not received enough funding from the government, yet the programs are quite expensive,” he said,

NVTI has only 126 girls out of 1056 students.

Muwanga added that the programs are not female friendly; hence many girls do not enroll.