Africa’s TVET Question Awaits AUC Chairman, H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Team.

According to the Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary, a question is something, or topic that needs to be discussed or dealt with.
Africa tackled the independence question starting in the early 1900s after collaborative and collective efforts. Once the independence question was settled, civil wars, coups and conflicts started, taking the continent in reverse gear. Luckily as of today, collective efforts have played a great role in minimizing the challenge of political and social upheaval.

With the youngest population globally, Africa has the potential to support her growth and development once the glaring TVET question is systematically addressed and prioritized by the new leaders at African Union Commission.

Past leaders at African Union Commission have continuously laid a robust foundation that current and future leaders can build on as follows:

The African Agenda 2063 coupled with the continental strategy for TVET and SDGs, are tools in advancing the sector’s progression. Although these strategic steps and more have been put in black and white, the TVET question remains a white elephant in the room influenced by some of the challenges.

The funding gap that is below 0.2 % of GDP in most countries is totally worrying since it adversely impacts the role of TVET in our human resource and capital development of the continent.

Political goodwill and influence is still a blessing to a few countries on the continent and whether its top- bottom or bottom –top, many leaders have not realized the cardinal role of TVET in regional and continental development.

Limited access to equitable and quality careers education services by the TVET community continues to be a major barrier towards courses being demand driven rather than supply driven as evidenced by oversupply of skills. For example in African townships it is easier to find a tailor or hair stylist than to find an auto electrician.

The greening and digitalization of African TVET is lagging behind compared to other continents globally and this manifests through the mismatch of skills taught and what the industry needs hence being a barrier for decent employment and dignity in labor.

A lot of investment to have a continental vocational qualification frame has been made. However on ground we see that even regional vocational qualification frameworks have not been fully established or partially implemented hence making our national and regional TVET sectors pull in different directions.

Areas That Need Urgent Attention by the New African Union Commission Leadership.

Policy harmonization, implementation and aligning of TVET policies across AU member states to ensure consistency and mobility of skills through implementation of the continental TVET strategy and African Continental Qualification framework. Efforts to strengthen the sector must be anchored in policy and legal framework for matters of sustainability since it enables seamless replication across the continent.

Fast tracking of all current efforts on skill development projects and initiatives by African Union and partners like UNESCO, ILO, AfDB, the list is endless so as gaps ranging from technical to financial support can be addressed hence lay better ground for future projects.

Digital transformation in TVET is vital and key with more investment in digital skills and emerging technologies to prepare the youth for current and future jobs. In addition to expanding e-learning and blended learning solutions to boost access and quality.

Gender and social inclusion needs urgent consideration so that participation in TVET is not affected by gender bias. Same for disadvantaged groups like refugees and rural communities.

Monitoring, evaluation and research. Developing robust monitoring systems to track TVET outcomes and impact across that continent. In addition, support research to drive evidence based –decision making and policy reforms.

Best Practices AUC Leadership Should Upscale

WorldSkills Africa
For many years Africa was absent in WorldSkills international activities, hence missing out on a myriad of opportunities like the global competitions, capacity building, vital conferences until the rainbow nation joined in 1990 and other Africa countries followed suite long after WorldSkills had become international in 1958. Therefore WorldSkills Africa must be supported through strengthening her membership since current composition is weak to unpack the WorldSkills international merits to the continent.

Africa Skills Week
The inaugural event hosted in Accra Ghana in 2024, was a fresh breath in our TVET ecosystem. The event planted great seeds of stakeholder engagement across the globe and it is a humble request that this initiative is supported by African Union commission to upscale.

TVET Reforms Alignment at National and Regional Levels
These reforms address the current gaps in the sector. African Union Commissioners should always labour to offer expertise to various TVET departments or agencies so that national policies and practices align with the continental strategy. For example, the Kenyan Cabinet approved Dual Training early this year, which is best practice worth replicating across the continent.

Continental Strategy on TVET
More action in the implementation of available policy direction initiatives. The current efforts are greatly appreciated but need reinforcement in order to achieve the goals and targets.

Qualified TVET Trainers/Instructors/Tutors
Without doubt, the quality of instructors/trainers affects the TVET graduates sent into the ever evolving employment landscape .The uncoordinated training of trainers could worsen the challenge. Therefore there is an urgent need to invest in the existing TVET pedagogy training. The Kenya School of TVET upscaling into Africa School of TVET, is vital in harmonizing training of TVET trainers and administrators across the continent. For example, a quick sample among top echelons of African armies, it is evident that Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) was their alma mater, hence the call to have a TVET alma mater or its equivalent on the continent.

We truly believe that the new leadership at the African Union will usher in a new TVET era on the continent once the important TVET question is systematically approached.
We take this opportunity to once again congratulate the incoming AUC Chairman H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and his team.

Co-authored by: Mulihi Bumali TVET Champion at Pamoja Careers Services in Uganda and Adilla Anyanzwa TVET Expert and Principal at Umma University TVET Institute in Kenya.