Vocational education not for failures- experts
Jun 19, 2019
According to national statistics, an estimated 700,000 graduates enter the labor market each year, and this is projected to increase to over 1.5 million by 2040, according to records from the finance ministry.
EDUCATION
MAYUGE-For years' vocational education has always been viewed as an option for failures but experts say, that's not true.
Students who have got skilled in vocational and technical institutions disagree with that myth and strongly believe vocational skills are vital to the country if development is to be experienced soon.
Ruth Namulondo aged 31 had been married for seven years and with 3 children that she couldn't even afford to feed something that haunted her all her life.
When she heard of a scholarship opportunity offered by habitat to youths who are interested in vocational and technical studies, she accepted the offer.
She joined pioneer technical institute for a catering course, Namulondo is full of smiles today that upon completion of the course, she was the best and her lecturer had already connected her for a job in one of the best hotels around.
She is happy and even those who discouraged her from going, are today jealous of her because of what she has achieved.
Students get work tools (Photo by Stella Naigino)
"They told me that it was of no use to go to a technical institute because I had failed in life so by going, I would not gain anything, something that I disagreed with, "says Namulondo.
Namulondo graduated along with other 72 youths in different academic disciplines like bricklaying, carpentry and salon and hairdressing among others.
The graduates believe, with the skills they attained in the technical institute, they will change the world and also empower fellow youths in the neighbourhood with skills. These were given work machines by Habitat for humanity as start-up capital.
However, experts say, its time Ugandans learn to embrace the fruits of vocational and technical skills to change the perception that people have about these institutions.
According to national statistics, an estimated 700,000 graduates enter the labor market each year, and this is projected to increase to over 1.5 million by 2040, according to records from the finance ministry.
Only about 90,000, however, are getting absorbed into the job market. The reason given was that the graduates do not possess the required skills. The skilling Uganda program was, therefore, designed as a magic bullet to this acute unemployment.
"It's for that reason that such graduates ought to take advantage of the technical and vocational institutions to get the skills they need to carry on with their works, "said Godwin Mugisha the inspector of schools Mayuge district.
He called upon parents to fight early child marriages that had hit the area and girls were stopping in Primary Seven and getting married off.
Mugisha urged the graduates to love what they had acquired and work with a positive attitude if they are to gain from the skills they had attained.
Deo Mugabo the acting director Habitat for Humanity advised the graduates to work towards developing their home area, Mayuge.
He said the area suffers a lot of poverty and in the end, many children drop out of school to sell mangoes, do farm work something that hinders the development of the region.
"Use the skills you have acquired to develop this area and fight poverty," said Mugabo.