An electrical student at the Gombe Skills Development Centre in Bombo. PHOTO/GEOFFREY MUTUMBA
What you need to know:
- Commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Loy Muhwezi, said vocational courses are pathways to employment and entrepreneurship
The commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Loy Muhwezi, has urged students to embrace vocational courses as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship, rather than treating them as an alternative for those who fail to gain university admission.
Dr Muhwezi made the call during a TVET skills competition and exhibition that was held at Gombe Skills Development Centre in Bombo, last week, where students showcased their practical abilities in various disciplines, including electrical installation, motor vehicle mechanics, tailoring and interior design.
Addressing herself to the students, Dr Muhwezi said employers are increasingly looking for practical skills rather than academic qualifications alone, urging learners to acquire competencies that meet the demands of the job market.
“The only way we can fight the mismatch in the job market is through TVET courses. Employers no longer look at academic papers; rather, they prefer the skills you have to do the job, and the institutions that provide these skills are TVET institutions,” Dr Muhwezi said.
The competition and exhibition, organised with support from Enable Uganda under its WeWork project, aimed to expose students from different schools in Luweero District to professional standards and prepare them to compete with their counterparts in the global market.
The competition was conducted internally, with learners from the building construction, electrical installation, and fashion and design departments competing for start-up kits.
Students from visiting schools, alongside learners from other departments, including agriculture, motor vehicle mechanics, woodworking technology, plumbing and catering, showcased their work to demonstrate the practical skills acquired during training.
Mr Williams Kairu, the head trainer at Gombe Polytechnic, said the institution organised the competition to demonstrate the practical abilities of its learners to the communities from which they come.
The best-performing students received start-up kits from Enable Uganda under its green and decent jobs for the youth programme, intended to help them apply their skills and pursue self-employment opportunities.