TEVETA and partners have developed 19 curricula that seek to address challenges posed by climate change across economic sectors and to increase productivity through mindset change. The curricula were launched today by the Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati.

The priority curricula included Irrigation Systems, Solar Energy for Agriculture, Ground Water Exploration, Mapping and Drilling Operations and Borehole Drilling, Farm Management and Animal Husbandry. Others were in Specialised and Resistance Welding, Coded Welding, Plasma Cutting and Welding and Liquified Petroleum Gas Installers.

Specialised and Resistance Welding, Mindset Change Process, Customs Clearing, Tool, Die and Mould Making, Crushing operations, Groundwater Exploration and Mapping, Zambian Music Instrument Performance and Overhead lines Construction and Management.

Speaking during the launch, Mr. Mutati said the launch of the 19 priority curricula is in response to the Government aspirations to develop relevant policies and skills that make the country resilient to the effects of climate change.  He said results of climate change such as loss of crops that led to food insecurity called for immediate action to address those challenges.  

Speaking in a speech read for him by Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Mr. Mutati said energy is an enabler in the economy and the TEVET sector is being remodelled to make the country stronger against any effects on the sector.

He said the aim of the remodelled curricula is to transform the country into a prosperous middle-income nation. “These curricula address gaps identified in the agriculture, energy and other sectors.”

And TEVETA Board Chairperson Ngoza Nkwabilo said the new curriculum had been aligned to the Eighth National Development Plan to achieve the country's economic targets. Ms. Nkwabilo said the curriculum will provide skills to develop the country and make the nation more resilient.

“The curricula were development of these curricula we partnered with various organizations include Zambia Revenue Authority, German Corporation for International Cooperation (GiZ), Zambia Association of Manufacturers, USAID, SBM, Zesco, Solar Industry Association of Zambia and others. We are grateful to our stakeholders, industry players and TEVETA management and staff for their roles in skills development processes.”

Meanwhile, TEVETA Director General, Cleophas Takaiza disclosed that the authority has identified four (4) training institutions to start providing up-skills and re-skilling citizens in solar energy as a response to the energy deficit and skills gaps in solar installers and repairs in the country. Mr. Takaiza said the 4 institutions were financed to establish solar mini grids by the GiZ for training and power supply within their facilities.

These institutions are St. Mawagali Trades Training Institute, Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies, Fountain Gates Craft and Trades School and the Zambia College of Agriculture in Monze.