Dar es Salaam, 12th July 2012 – The British High Commissioner to
Tanzania, Diane Corner, hosted a lunch on Tuesday at her Residence in
Dar es Salaam to launch a project implemented by the Vocational
Education Training Authority (VETA) and international development
charity VSO, in partnership with BG Tanzania. The project aims at
improving the employability of young people in Mtwara region, with a
focus on the oil and gas industry and related services.
Due to the increase in exploration activities by oil and gas companies
in Mtwara, the demand for skilled labour is growing. While the number
of employees required to operate an oil and gas plant is not very
high, the trickledown effect on employment in areas such as carpentry,
plumbing, food preparation, electricians and machinists is expected to
be significant.
The project will improve vocational training skills and employability
of local people by:
1. Raising VETA Mtwara standards for craftsmanship skills in line with
internationally recognized levels in 8 areas: English language, food
preparation, plumbing, welding, carpentry, motor vehicle, electrical
installation and maintenance;
2. Promoting VETA Mtwara as a centre of excellence for training
vocational trainers in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas
industry and provides training to other regions.
It is expected to benefit at least 280 students, who will earn
internationally recognized certificates in their respective trades by
the end of the project in 2014 and more than half of them will find a
job after graduation. In the long run, VETA Mtwara will be capable of
producing a steady stream of qualified craftsmen and teachers and will
be able to roll out this model to other vocational institutes as
required.
Seven qualified VSO professional volunteers, one for each of the
trades identified above except English language, will provide the
technical support to the project. The volunteers will coach VETA
trainers on a one-on-one basis to qualify as UK University accredited
and certified tutors. After a minimum of two years, the VETA teacher
trainers will travel to the UK for graduation and to gain first hand,
practical, international standard experience of tutor training in the
specialist field. English training is currently being provided by the
British Council. The project will also involve the Leicester College
from the UK, which will provide quality assurance during the whole
process and support the international accreditation process.
VETA Director General Zebadiah Moshi said: “this approach is a pilot
that could replicated at larger scale in coordination with other
initiatives to improve vocational training in Tanzania”.
BG Tanzania Country Manager Matt Wilks said: “BG is delighted to be
working in partnership with VETA and VSO to enhance the employability
of local people in Mtwara and beyond. This multi-year initiative will
give us a good basis to start building the skills of Tanzanian people
so that they can benefit fully from the economic opportunities that
will be created both in the oil and gas sector and the wider economy.”
VSO country director Jean Van Wetter said: “we welcome this
partnership between the Government, the private sector and the civil
society. It is essential that we work together to create more jobs for
young people in Tanzania”.
The launch of the project was attended by VETA Director General,
Zebadiah Moshi; BG Tanzania Country Manager, Matt Wilks; VSO Tanzania
Country Director, Jean Van Wetter; DFID Acting Country Director, Ros
Cooper; TPDC representatives; and British Council Acting Country
Director, Clare Grundy.