Establish manufacturing firms, Teveta challenges Malawians
Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) has challenged Malawians to come up with manufacturing firms to grow the economy.
Speaking at a news conference to give an update on a visit a 14-member delegation made to Germany last month, Teveta board chairperson Gilbert Chilinde said in countries such as Germany, most manufacturing industries are locally owned.
He said the Tevet system in Malawi needs to open up further to give opportunities to the majority of Malawians, adding “that cannot be achieved through training alone”.
“There is a lot that the Tevet system in Malawi can offer to the economy. We, Malawians, like our colleagues are doing elsewhere, must strive to establish companies to produce something for the country.
“Our economy is dominated by foreigners. We are not saying this is bad, but we want to have indigenous Malawians coming up with businesses,” said Chilinde.
In a presentation on the visit, Teveta acting executive director Wilson Makulumiza-Nkhoma said there are recommendations to the Tevet system in Malawi which should be adopted if the system is to benefit the country.
“Occupations need to be classified and made to occur as organised groups. Collaboration between technical colleges and industries should be well defined and enhanced in training implementation.
“Government must set minimum standards for a technical college teacher in both technical and pedagogical skills. These are some of the recommendations,” he said.
Technical adviser of the Partnership Project Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Small Businesses Cologne, Germany and Teveta, Heinrich Rinke, who was part of the delegation to Germany, observed the need for the Malawi Tevet system to have up-to-date equipment.
“Another thing that we have observed is that the equipment in most technical colleges is not meeting the demand on the market. The qualification of instructors must also improve. Certain modules are lacking because they are developed based on the outdated equipment,” he said. n
