Skills development key to economic growth, say agencies

Two state-run organisations are attempting to provide skills that will boost the chances of around 200,000 young Malawians who seek employment each year. Only 30,000 to 35,000 of them manage to enter the formal sector, and the number of job-seekers is likely to double in the next few years, predicted a survey by the government's Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA). The increasing number of school leavers is widely attributed to the introduction of free primary education in 1994. "This indicates that over 100,000 boys and girls will have to seek some source of income other than wage employment. All the young people who join the labour market are not from the tertiary education system - some are primary school dropouts, secondary school dropouts and others are college dropouts. The question we need to ask is: has education provided these people with the skills that will help them to survive?" asked Jones Chafa, TEVETA's executive director. TEVETA was established by an act of parliament in July 1999 to facilitate technical and vocational training in Malawi. Since its inception the organisation has trained more than 3,000 people, providing them with skills that could help them find employment in the informal sector, while over a 1,000 more have improved job prospects in the formal sector. The training programme covers trades such carpentry and joinery, welding and fabrication, bricklaying, motor vehicle repair, electrical installation, painting and decoration, knitting, tailoring and baking. Chafa said the importance of young skilled workers in any developing country like Malawi could not be over-emphasised. "To increase productivity, Malawi's economy needs not only capital investment but also a skilled workforce, hence their training and development should make an important contribution towards economic development and poverty reduction." Another government organisation, the Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF), supported by the World Bank, provides financial assistance to local communities for projects that address social and economic strategies for reduction of poverty and unemployment. Since its inception MASAF projects have been able to train and find jobs for at least 1,000 unemployed youth. The Fund's executive director, Sam Kakhobwe, said his organisation was developing the nation through the construction of roads and other infrastructure, while empowering Malawians economically. In his inaugural address last month, President Bingu wa Mutharika promised to continue free primary education, but to reform the education system by shifting the emphasis in school curriculums from training children for white-collar jobs to acquiring entrepreneurial skills.