Arusha, Tanzania, 22nd November 2022 – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutes in East Africa have hailed for supporting regional integration through mutual recognition of TVET Programmes.
Through the World Bank-funded East African Skills for Transformation Project (EASTRIP), a total of 235 existing TVET qualifications were adopted for mutual recognition among countries implementing the Project.
Speaking at the opening session of the World Bank-funded East African Skills for Transformation Project (EASTRIP) Technical Advisory Meeting, the Chief Guest, Dr. Caroline Nombo, representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Unted Republic of Tanzania, said Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, with support from EASTRIP funded by the World Bank, have taken on activities to support regional integration in the TVET sector. “Under EASTRIP, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania have developed a regional TVET Qualifications Framework which will allow the three countries to mutually recognise TVET qualification. This is a significant step towards increasing enrolment of regional students in both long-term and short-term programmes. It also supports the Implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol which emphasizes free movement of labour,” Dr. Nombo said.
Participants during the EASTRIP Annual Technical Advisory Meeting held in Arusha Tanzania
The World Bank Regional Task Team Leader for EASTRIP, Dr. Xiaoyan Liang, noted that with support from EASTRIP, national governments have made effort to creative a national conducive policy and institutional framework so that TVET institutions can thrive. “Tanzania started to streamline the regulatory bodies with the creation of National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) which is being modernized with strong industry linkage, occupational standards, and streamlined accreditation process. Kenya is developing national guidelines for TVET Colleges to work with industries in income generation and trainer competencies so that the good practices from EASTRIP can be scaled up to the rest of the TVET system,” Dr. Liang said.
The IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, observed that the EASTRIP Project had enabled TVET Colleges to increase enrolment of students. “Key notable achievements include increased enrolment of students in both long-term and short term TVET programmes. This is a testimony that young professionals are beginning to see TVET as a career of choice and this can only improve as governments continue to invest in TVET sector to make it more attractive for learners,” Prof. Banyankimbona said.
EASTRIP is a five-year project funded by the World Bank and the Governments of Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania to increase access and improve quality of TVET programs offered by the selected Regional Flagship TVET Institutes and support regional integration.
The project seeks to increase enrolment of female students in technology and engineering fields which has been low. The total number of female students enrolled in selected TVET courses has also increased from 741 students at baseline to 5,230 students. Graduates employed within six months upon graduation has also increased from 47 per cent to 69 per cent.
Notes to Editors
- The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is a strategic institution of the East African Community (EAC) responsible for the development and coordination of higher education and research in the region.
IUCEA is the Regional Facilitation Unit for the World Bank-funded East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP). - EASTRIP is funded by the governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania and the World Bank to increase access and improve the quality of TVET programs in 16 regional flagship TVET Centres of Excellence and to support regional integration.
- The project supports the development of highly specialized TVET programs at diploma and degree levels for training of technicians and TVET faculty, as well as industry recognized short-term training, targeting regional priority sectors in transport, energy, manufacturing, and ICT.
For further information, please contact
Godwin Bonge Muhwezi,
Project Communication Officer,
Inter University Council for East Africa
Kampala, Uganda
e-mail: gmuhwezi@iucea.org