By Rangarirai Shanyurai
In a grand ceremony marking its 12th graduation, a combined total of 2421 students from four local Vocational Training Centres (VTC) were capped at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre (VTC) on November 27.
The graduation ceremony was running under the theme “Innovative, Create, Elevate: Celebrating Vocational Excellence” with a bias towards the Training for Enterprise concept.
Of the 2421 graduands who were capped, four were people with disabilities, 1137 were females and were slightly outnumbered by males who were 1280.
The host, Mushagashe VTC, had 1821, Masvingo Urban VTC had 317, and Gutu VTC had 197 while Chivi Mhandamabwe VTC had 95.
The 2024 graduates underwent extensive training in various courses including cosmetology, metal fabrication, plumbing and drain laying, brick laying, motor mechanics, clothing, IT, carpentry, electrical engineering as well as tourism and hospitality.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Developmental and Vocational Training Tino Machakaire who was guest-of-honour said it was worth noting that the number of female graduands had increased as well as the number of people with disabilities.
“I am honoured to stand before you all today as we witness the graduation of over 2000 young people. We are happy with the fact that amongst the graduands today we have young persons with disabilities, a development which is a true adherence to His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa’s call of “leaving no one behind”.
“This rings true of the adage that states “disability is not inability”. The gradual increase in the number of female students that are participating in the skills training initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry is encouraging and this trend has been noticed across the country,” said Machakaire.
He added that VTCs should campaign against drugs and substance abuse and they had plans to make sure that every district had a VTC.
“Let me take this opportunity to emphasise that VTCs must take centre stage in the fight against drug and substance abuse. Skills training can go a long way in addressing this pandemic. I urge you all graduands to be exemplary within the communities that you reside in.
“I implore you to be the beacons that will show your fellow youths that skills training can be an effective tool to meaningfully engage young people and ensure they stay away from drug and substance abuse.
“The Government through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training has adopted a deliberate plan to establish at least one vocational training centre in every district of the country. This development is aimed at ensuring that as many youths as possible get the relevant skills for employment or entrepreneurship for industry growth,” added Machakaire.
He said VTCs played an essential role in national development and the country should empower youths.
“Vocational training plays a pivotal role in national development as the NDS 1 identifies human capital development as one of the key pillars for national development. Efforts being undertaken by our VTCs are specifically geared towards this key national development agenda.
“By investing in our youth and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive as the workforce, we are laying the foundation for a prosperous future for all Zimbabweans, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.
“We need to put our hands together as a nation and invest in our young people. The country has begun a new era under the Second Republic where vocational training will ensure survival in a competitive local and global market through innovations, continuous curriculum review and productivity.
“In addition, the Ministry is currently going through a process to implement the Transformation of the Vocational Training system which aims at professionalising, standardising as well as modernising the vocational training system across the country,” he said.
