Vocational and technical training institutes in the Ankole Sub-region are calling on the government to reinstate cost-sharing for trainees to sustain competence-based training programmes. Under the Uganda Skills Development Project (USDP), supported by a $100 million World Bank grant, the government previously funded training for more than 500 students across several institutions.
However, since the project ended, institutions say they have struggled to support trainees, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Alex Twebaze, the acting deputy principal of Uganda Technical Institute Bushenyi, said implementing the competence-based curriculum requires significant financial resources, making it difficult for disadvantaged learners to enroll and complete training.
He explained that a student may need more than 10 million shillings to complete a course under the competence-based curriculum, which he said is unaffordable for many families. He added that the earlier cost-sharing arrangement, where the government covered 80 percent and the learner 20 percent, had eased access for underprivileged students.
Twebaze also noted that the materials required for practical training are costly, placing additional pressure on both institutions and trainees. Gilbert Tukahirwa, a tutor at Uganda Technical College, said some competence-based programmes, such as the certificate in Manufacturing, require expensive raw materials and equipment for hands-on training.
He said a student may need between 12 and 13 million shillings to cover materials such as fats, soda bicarbonate, and automated machines, given that training is approximately 70 percent practical and 30 percent theoretical. He added that some competence-based programmes do not clearly align with industrial progression pathways that lead to diplomas, even though they award certificates.
At Rwentanga Farm Institute in Mbarara District, principal William Tukwasibwe said one of the major challenges is the high cost of fees, averaging about 700,000 shillings per student, which he said is beyond the reach of many in the local community. He noted that the institution receives a capitation grant covering only about 140 students annually, despite enrolling more than 900 trainees, creating a significant funding gap.
Tukwasibwe called for a clear government policy on staffing structures and remuneration in vocational institutions to improve service delivery and sustainability.
Kambaho Narasi, communications manager at the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), said the government rationalized the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) to form UVTAB to bridge existing gaps in the sector. He added that the TVET Act 2025 provides for employer-led, competence-based training designed in collaboration with industry, which he said will help address current challenges in vocational education and training-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
