Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati said Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) was a vital engine for job and wealth creation through hands-on and entrepreneurial skills. Speaking during the second quarter review of the Ministry of Technology and Science’s performance, Mr. Mutati said TEVET was the “engine to national development,” which required stronger alignment to long-term development vision and economic agenda.

The Minister emphasised that Zambia cannot achieve meaningful socio-economic transformation without a skilled workforce with practical and industry-relevant competencies. “TEVET is the engine to economic transformation, which produces practical and entrepreneurial competencies to provide solutions to socio-economic challenge. If we want to drive economic diversification, industrialisation, job creation, and inclusive growth, we must fuel this engine,” Mutati said.

“When we talk of 3 million tonnes of copper, we cannot achieve it without relevant practical skills. Beef and maize production targets call for TEVET to develop a competent workforce to increase productivity in the agricultural sector. This calls for the repositioning of TEVET to meet our national aspirations. We must keep the TEVET engine well-aligned, well-funded, and well-directed to build resilient communities, competitive industries, and a thriving economy,” he said.

The Minister further outlined five (5) pillars that aligned with national goals articulated in the National Development Plan and Presidential Directives. “We need to develop measurable targets and monitoring tools of such targets, collaboration to achieve common goals, develop efficient ways of doing business, alignment of programmes to national aspirations including Presidential Directives and reviewing of progress to ensure we are not off target” he elaborated.

Mr. Mutati said aligning TEVET to the Vision 2030 and Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) that place skills development at the centre of economic transformation and job creation. “We should ensure that every TEVET intervention contributes directly to the 8NDP’s strategic development areas in agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing, energy, and digital innovation.”

He said in economic sectors such as mining, energy and agriculture, the demand for skilled artisans, machine operators, renewable energy technicians, and agripreneurs continued to rise. “If we skill the youth in these sectors, we will not only reduce unemployment, but we will make the youth part of the value chain,” Mr. Mutati added