By Godwin Bonge Muhwezi
Technical and vocational education experts from Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania have commended the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) for supporting regional integration.
Speaking at the opening session of the EASTRIP Technical Advisory Meeting which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Chief Guest, State Minister for TVET in Ethiopia, Dr. Teshale Brecha, said, “EASTRIP has given us an opportunity to form strong collaborations among TVET institutions in staff and student exchange, harmonization of curriculum, which will support regional integration”.
The State Minister for TVET in Ethiopia, Dr. Teshale Brecha (Centre Seated), with Participants at the Technical Advisory Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The IUCEA Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai, said: “IUCEA has began developing a harmonized framework for occupational competency assessment and certification which will help countries in the region to institute TVET reforms towards outcome based and quality driven TVET systems”.
The World Bank Lead Education Specialist, Dr. Xiaoyan Liang said: “EASTRIP has given us a good learning platform on which to build to promote innovation in TVET systems. I would like to call on IUCEA to use its regional network of policy makers at EAC level to advance issues of TVET”.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, United Republic of Tanzania, Prof. James Mdoe, said: “Tanzania has developed a National Skills Development Strategy that focusses on developing a skilled workforce. EASTRIP support to TVET institutions in Tanzania will be key to the implementation of the strategy”.
EASTRIP is a five-year project funded by the World Bank and the Governments of Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania to increase the access and improve the quality of TVET programs in selected Regional Flagship TVET Institutes and to support regional integration.
The Writer is a Project Communication Officer for EASTRIP at IUCEA.