project stakeholders pictured with British High Commissioner Diane Corner in front of her residence in Dar es Salaam
The British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Diane Corner, hosted a lunch on Tuesday at her Residence in Dar es Salaam to launch a project implemented by the Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) and international development charity VSO, in partnership with BG Tanzania.
The project aims at improving the employability of young people in Mtwara region, with a focus on the oil and gas industry and related services.
Due to the increase in exploration activities by oil and gas companies in Mtwara, the demand for skilled labour is growing. While the number of employees required to operate an oil and gas plant is not very high, the trickledown effect on employment in areas such as carpentry, plumbing, food preparation, electricians and machinists is expected to be significant.
The project will improve vocational training skills and employability of local people by:
Raising VETA Mtwara standards for craftsmanship skills in line with internationally recognized levels in 8 areas: English language, food preparation, plumbing, welding, carpentry, motor vehicle, electrical installation and maintenance;Promoting VETA Mtwara as a centre of excellence for training vocational trainers in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas industry and provides training to other regions.
It is expected to benefit at least 280 students, who will earn internationally recognized certificates in their respective trades by the end of the project in 2014 and more than half of them will find a job after graduation. In the long run, VETA Mtwara will be capable of producing a steady stream of qualified craftsmen and teachers and will be able to roll out this model to other vocational institutes as required.
Seven qualified VSO professional volunteers, one for each of the trades identified above except English language, will provide the technical support to the project. The volunteers will coach VETA trainers on a one-on-one basis to qualify as UK University accredited and certified tutors.
After a minimum of two years, the VETA teacher trainers will travel to the UK for graduation and to gain first hand, practical, international standard experience of tutor training in the specialist field. English training is currently being provided by the British Council. The project will also involve the Leicester College from the UK, which will provide quality assurance during the whole process and support the international accreditation process.
VETA Director General Zebadiah Moshi said: “this approach is a pilot that could replicated at larger scale in coordination with other initiatives to improve vocational training in Tanzania”.
BG Tanzania Country Manager Matt Wilks said: “BG is delighted to be working in partnership with VETA and VSO to enhance the employability of local people in Mtwara and beyond. This multi-year initiative will give us a good basis to start building the skills of Tanzanian people so that they can benefit fully from the economic opportunities that will be created both in the oil and gas sector and the wider economy.”
VSO country director Jean Van Wetter said: “we welcome this partnership between the Government, the private sector and the civil society. It is essential that we work together to create more jobs for young people in Tanzania”.
The launch of the project was attended by VETA Director General, Zebadiah Moshi; BG Tanzania Country Manager, Matt Wilks; VSO Tanzania Country Director, Jean Van Wetter; DFID Acting Country Director, Ros Cooper; TPDC representatives; and British Council Acting Country Director, Clare Grundy.
Hizi ni habari njema sana kwa watanzania. Lakini jamani mafunzo hayo yasiwe ni kwa level ya VETA tu. Kwa kiasi cha gesi kinachogunduliwa kila siku huko Mtwara, inabidi nchi ijipange na kuanzisha FACULTY mpya pale UDSM na UDOM ili kuandaa watanzania wengi zaidi kwa ngazi ya shahada na kuendelea. Vinginevyo, miaka mitatu tu ijayo tutajikuta katika sekta ya gesi imejaza wataalamu mbalimbali kutoka nchi za Uganda, Nigeria na kwingineko duniani. Kwa taarifa tu, ni kuwa hivi sasa katika nchi ya TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, ambayo ina gesi nyingi sana, na pia wanayo faculty nzima katika Chuo chao kikuu, inayotoa mafunzo hadi ngazi ya digrii kuhusu masuala ya gesi tu, wapo wanafunzi karibu arobaini (40) kutoka Uganda na Nigeria wanasomea utalaam wa masuala ya gesi tu. Hivyo Tanzania ni lazima tujipange SASA..... Hongera sana VETA kwa kufungua mlango huo. Naamini TPDC wenye dhamana ya kusimamia sekta ya gesi asilia watafuatilia suala hili la mafunzo.
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