REVITALIZING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN UGANDA | Three-day Symposium by AVSI Uganda

REVITALIZING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN UGANDA Three-day symposium | 28 th - 30th September 2017 EVENT REPORT

COWA

COMPANIONSHIP OF WORKS ASSOCIATION

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About the event: The three-day symposium (28th to 30th September 2017) aimed at sensitizing the general public about the importance of vocational education in respect to its beauty, opportunities, challenges and recommendations. The event stressed the relevance of the Dual Training System (DTS) - a training approach where students learn from school and the industry in alternation. The Dual Training System is a vocational training approach that combines theoretical and practical training. It ensures that trainees are equipped with employability and work place skills, knowledge, values and attitudes. Event Objectives: • To promote a paradigm shift in the perception of the community on the value of vocational education for students and society. • To bridge the gap between the private sector and vocational institutions. • To facilitate dialogue between the private sector and public stakeholders on how to work together to improve on the effectiveness of vocational education. • To demonstrate pathways of vocational education in Uganda to the public. • To share innovations that increase employability of the youth in vocational schools.

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DAY 1 | 28 th September 2017 | Thursday

Teopista Mutyaba - Instructor (SYC) Today, many young people and adults who have passed through Sharing Youth Center are self-employed or transferring their knowledge to others. The soft skills they learn create more opportunities for advancement.

Juliet Nabwire - Human Resource Manager (Royal Suites Hotel) On-the-job training in the workplace will provide trainees with well coordinated learning experiences and opportunities.

John Makoha - Country Representative (AVSI Foundation) Vocational training is the way to go; however, the industry should be part of the training program. Young people will compete for employment when they get skills from the industry.

Betty Achola - Student (COWA VTC) I thought practicing agriculture was for people who are not modern. Today, I am enjoying this vocation: I am earning money from horticulture.

Bonita Akimbabazi- Student (COWA CVTS) I had the chance to work in a Kampala hotel where I gained skills in self-confidence. After my training, I could bake cakes for sale. I am happy to be a caterer.

SUCCES STORY

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John Muhangyi - Project Manager, ICEP project (LGIHE) This will demonstrate the need to embrace vocational education as an educational pathway; a place where students learn to do, to be and to live a fulfilled life, a place where a human person becomes a true protagonist of work.

Anna Arach - Parent (COWA VTC) I supported my daughter’s decision to receive training at AgroMax. On her return home she prepared a garden of green pepper, carrots and tomatoes. I know she took the right choice.

Joseph Luyimbazi - DSP beneficiary and a former student of COWA VTC I received carpentry training from COWA VTC before travelling to South Africa for further studies. My dream was to start my own workshop in Uganda and I made it. Today, I have specialized in kitchen furniture. I train and employ young people.

Chrispine Wanyahoro - Executive Director (COWA VTC) Education makes us love life, it opens us to the fullness of life. The big question is how to shift from school system to flexible, workplace oriented environment; from an educational sub-sector to a comprehensive system of skills development for employment, productivity and growth. This is the reason COWA VTC has introduced the Dual Training System in its training program.

Joseph owns a multimillion kitchen carpentry workshop in Entebbe where he trains and employs several youth, mostly from disadvantaged families.

DAY 2 | 29 th September 2017 | Friday H.E. Domenico Fornara - Ambassador of Italy to Uganda The private sector is an important engine of economic growth and wealth creation. Young people will succeed if they know the market, if they pay attention to management skills and are customer oriented. He quoted Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” He further encouraged the students to get involved in what they learn and to ask questions so as to gain practical experience.

TOURNAMENTS

MARCH

REGISTRATION

In pictures...

DAY 2 : Opportunities, Social responsibility, Relationships, New demands.

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James Mugerwa - Assistant Commissioner, Vocational - Parent (COWA VTC) BTVET is collaborating with the private sector to develop vocational regulations which proposes that fifty percent of the Sector Skills Council management of vocational training institutions be controlled by the private sector. The Industrial Skills Council is examining prospects of relating the vocational training curriculum with the labor market needs.

Jooga Kawule - Head of Membership Department (USSIA) We encourage exchange visits between companies, entrepreneurs, industries and vocational schools for discussion of ideas, knowledge, and comprehensive practices. All stakeholders in vocational training should have a systematic approach.

Onesmus Oyesigye - Executive Secretary (UBTEB)

UBTEB desires that the private sector participates at every stage of assessment in order to meet the fast moving technology demands of the 21st century.

Mathias Kironde - Central Chapter Chairperson (UGAPRIVI) Linkages, synergies and high-growth sectors and services have the ability to provide expanded employment for young people especially when they possess practical skills for the industry.

Stephen Bukare - MEL Manager, SKY project (AVSI Foundation) Public institutions should operate as social enterprise in order to reinvest their profits into the organization. This will enable youths to graduate, and students from vocational institutions to become job creators with numerous innovations.

DAY 3 | 30 th September 2017 | Saturday Participants met to celebrate the success of the event with Mass. It was a great moment for the students as they offered food and non-food items to charity for orphans in Nsambya. A fashion show organized by COWA VCT, COWA CVTC and Sharing Youth Center showcased different designs, a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. The show was an opportunity for the tailoring students to share their experiences as well as the hair-dressing students who managed the professional makeup and hair style. The award ceremony recognized the student’s efforts at the event.

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You communicated to us the power of passion and how it can bring forward your desires to succeed in your work and to put in practice what you are learning from vocational education - Mauro Giacomazzi, Institutional Development Advisor (LGIHE)

AWARDING

FASHION SHOW

MASS

PANELISTS EXHIBITION EXHIBITION

* EXHIBITIONS The symposium was a great opportunity for COWA CVTS, COWA VTC and SYC students to exhibit and sell their products. COWA CVTS in particular displayed Italian design shirts which they produced after a workshop organized in partnership with Embassy of Italy and Impronte di Donna, an Italian NGO funded by Elena Pavel.