By KT Reporter
Teachers in Zombo District have been urged to join short-term skilling initiatives as a way of reducing high levels of multiple loan borrowing from financial institutions. The call was made by Hassan Ringtho, the district speaker, while attending the first graduation ceremony of students who completed six-month skilling courses at LIFE CONCERN Skilling Centre in Paidha Town Council, Aluka Village.
Ringtho said enrolling teachers in short courses such as hairdressing, arts and crafts, tailoring, and tyre repairs could be a game changer, helping teachers reduce the loan burdens that have long been a challenge. “Don’t rely on teaching alone, but go for short-course skilling programs as an additional package to your profession to avoid multiple loans,” Ringtho advised.
The ceremony saw 43 informal students graduate after completing six months of vocational skilling courses. Emmy Kakura Kizito, Executive Director of Life Concern, appealed to the government to consider funding skilling centers nationwide to reduce the number of unemployed youth. He also urged graduates to focus on planting coffee as a foundation for future economic stability.
Life Concern Skilling Centre operates under the consortium of NGO-Forum and Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CFORD), to transform the lives of disadvantaged community members through skilling programs under the ALOCI KU’SOMU project. “The graduates should use the skills acquired to improve their livelihoods and leave a legacy by planting trees as a foundation in the community,” Kakura told the graduates.
Patrick Bikadho Othuma, the Senior Education Officer for Zombo District, urged the government to increase the number of beneficiaries at the government skilling hub in Zue Sub-County, noting the high dropout rate in the district. He also called for support to strengthen privately-owned skilling centers as a solution to youth unemployment.
“Government only admits one learner per sub-county to the government skilling hub, which totals just 15 learners for the whole district each year. This is very challenging for the youth,” Bikadho said. Zaitun Amina, a parent from Paidha Town Council whose daughter graduated in tailoring, called on the government to strengthen youth skilling programs and provide equipment, noting that many parents of school dropouts are poor and cannot afford startup materials. “Some of the graduates, especially widows, struggle to support their children and cannot afford skilling materials. Government support would make a big difference,” Amina said.
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