By KT Reporter
The Community in Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions has been urged to focus on vocational skills training. Trainers and experts from the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board -UVTAB currently on a tour of the ongoing TVET (Technical Vocational Education Training) assessments say that such training serve as a vital pathway to social and economic empowerment.
Edson Mirembe, the Chief Head Trainer at St. Joseph’s Technical Institute Virika in Fort Portal Tourism City says that graduates from technical and vocation Institutes possess essential skills critical for Uganda’s economic future.
He also notes that various partners including ENEBAL, World Vison, and Isaazi Lya Abantu Bakuru Ba Tooro are offering scholarships to learners from less privileged backgrounds urging the youth in the region to seize these opportunities to improve their livelihoods and to the country’s growth.
Aidan Atulinda, the Deputy Head Trainer at St. Joseph’s Technical Institute, has observed that the modularised curriculum is significantly helping students by assessing them based on skills needed in the present world of work.
He says the approach is motivating students to choose courses aligned with their abilities and the demands of the workforce.
Atulinda also noted that this year the Institute has 462 finalists, reflecting an increase in enrollment over the years and mirroring the steady shift in Uganda’s labor market, where employers increasingly prioritize practical competence over paper qualifications.
UBTEB’s Principal Communications and Public Relations Officer, Kambaho Narasi Anyijuka, urges all Ugandans to embrace attainment of life skills noting that vocational training is indispensable for building a workforce capable of driving Uganda’s resource –driven economy.
He said their findings indicate that more than 80% of are able to find employment within the first year.
Anyijuka who was at St. Joseph’s to assess the on-going examinations process noted that the number of students sitting for UVTAB has been on the raise over the years, a signal that more Ugandans are appreciating the value of vocation.
Annet Nanyonga, who joined vocational training after her primary seven is now hoping to undertake a degree in mechanical engineering.
Nanyonga notes that she is now able diagnose and fix key car mechanical conditions.
This year, a total of 137,546 learners are undertaking their final examinations. A Significant portion, 22,212 candidates, are registered to sit for the Modular and Full Occupational Levels 1 and 2, as well as the Worker’s Pass.
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