The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education, Science, and Technology. Prof. James Mdoe has underscored the government's commitment to ensuring TVET delivery by local institutions meets international standards.
Prof. Mdoe, representing the Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, made this statement during the 2024 (the 4th session) China-Africa TVET Collaboration Academic Exchange Seminar and Occupational Standards Promotion and Application Agenda held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
He noted that this was a matter of necessity so as to enhance economic development in Tanzania.
He said continuous engagement with TVET stakeholders in the China-Africa alliance was the best approach to bolstering established partnerships by enabling the sharing of resources, the development of better curriculum standards, and the enhancement of capacity building.
“Understanding the government initiatives in improving TVET training in the country, such seminars are very crucial to sharing the best experiences in TVET development,” he noted.
The seminar, which has attracted eight TVET institutions from China and 40 TVET institutions from Tanzania, is seeking to establish mutual understanding on areas of collaboration such as joint academic programs, student and teacher exchanges, resource sharing, technological support, and research and consultancy services in the field of TVET.
A delegation of high-profile TVET players in China's Technical and Vocational Education and Training met with their counterparts in Tanzania to discuss various issues relating to academic collaboration and the promotion and application of occupational standards.
The occupational standards developed for the NACTVET are aligned as benchmarks for curriculum delivery by TVET institutions to realize a graduate workforce with the requisite competencies that are responsive to the labor market in Tanzania and beyond.
On the other hand, the Director General of the China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance, Dr. Mark Zhiwu Gong, said the occupational standards development and user promotion project will work jointly with NACTVET and different TVET institutions in Tanzania.
According to Dr. Mark, this will enhance curriculum standards, capacity building, and technical and vocational training resources.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the NACTVET Governing Council, Ms. Bernadetta Ndunguru, observed in her introduction remarks that the seminar provided an excellent platform for academic exchange, where experts, scholars, and TVET practitioners from both China and Tanzania could share their experiences and knowledge for best practices in the field of TVET.
Earlier on, in his opening remarks, NACTVET Executive Secretary Dr. Adolf Rutayuga said that this year the government delegated the regulatory function of vocational training centers down to the level of secondary school.
He added that this would be another point of discussion among TVET institutions in Tanzania and an opportunity for learning best practices from China, whereby experience could inform the providers of vocational curricula (Amali) on what is best for vocational secondary schools in Tanzania.
