The Rise of Technical and Vocational Education in Empowering Youths in Africa

Aug 03, 2024 10:00AM ● By Okechukwu Nzeribe

Female workers at a charcoal factory in Namibia. Tim Brunauer on behalf of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Greater investment in quality education is key to alleviating poverty” – excerpts from Goal 4 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is focused on ensuring nations especially developing ones achieve a measure of decency by 2030.

For Africa, the greatest challenge to achieving this goal is not the presence of a growing population of which the continent boasts of the highest, but the growing rate of unemployment especially amongst the younger population.

Not only have traditional educational methods fallen short of providing the required skills for the labor market, but there is a deficiency in the number of jobs vis-à-vis the population of job seekers which has created a global unemployment challenge among the youthful demographic in the continent.

To solve this impasse, several African countries are leveraging the value of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to not only prepare their youths for the demands of the labor market but also offer them career opportunities in various entrepreneurial fields.

“According to the definition by UNESCO and the International Labor Organization (ILO), TVET refers to “aspects of the educational process involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences, and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding, and knowledge relating to occupants in various sectors of economic and social life" (UNESCO and ILO, 2001).

In addition to technical knowledge and aptitude, increasing emphasis is on “softer” skills – communication, negotiation, and teamwork. TVET is dispensed in public and private educational establishments or other forms of formal or informal instruction aimed at granting all segments of the society access to life-long learning resources”.

A group of men working on a construction design. Nebiyu.s, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Vocational education provides a skills-based and hands-on experience that is different from conventional education which focuses more on theoretical knowledge. The Introduction of TVET in the educational curriculum has prepared many African youths with on-site (fieldwork) as well as classroom experiences. Especially in sectors such as agriculture, information technology, construction, and manufacturing among others.

This in turn has prepared young people with marketable skills not just to secure employment alone, but to also offer alternatives for entrepreneurship which has led to the growing prevalence of Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) on the continent. Ultimately providing options that improve the economic fortunes of the young population whether it be in paid employment or entrepreneurship.

To upskill the African economy, the use of technical education must continue to be a central part of the educational curriculum development of the continent. Following the examples of many Asian countries, whose vocational education programs have created a generation of highly skilled workers who not only contribute to the growth of the local economy but also bring in foreign direct investment through skills exportation, the continent must invest heavily and structure policies at all educational levels to deepen vocational education.

The global economy today offers Africa an opportunity to export its skilled workforce to meet the demands of a bulging market. Training the youth population to be skilled in road construction and maintenance, mechanics, shoemakers, jewelry makers, bridge construction workers, and engineers along with other skilled experiences increases the growth of the continent’s local economies, douses the potential for youth restiveness and offers the opportunity to become a global player amongst other world economies.