By Lewis Msasa:
Perched on the shores of the breath-taking Lake Malawi, 40 kilometres from Karonga Town in the northern Malawi, Ngara Community Technical College is proud to have been in operation for over 10 years, honing skills of youth eager to transform their lives.
Martha Mwangomba, 30, is pleased with the progress she has made over the years, boasting a steady income and owns a house in Mzuzu that she rents out, among her achievements.
Despite having an MSCE certificate, getting employment was an uphill task. With no capital, starting a business venture was not an option either.
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But when Mwangomba from Mwakasungula Village in TA Kyungu in Karonga District decided to pursue a course in plumbing at Ngara Community Technical College in 2015, little did she know that her decision would mark a turning point in her life.
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“I am a qualified plumber and able to earn a decent living. I have managed to build a house in Mzuzu which I am renting out, providing me with a steady income,” says Mwangomba who works with the Northern Region Water Board in Mzimba district as a plumber.
The population of Malawi is youthful, with 51 percent under 18 years of age, according to the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census.
Despite their significant proportion, both present and projected in the future, young people have not realised their full potential due to age-related challenges and barriers such as lack of relevant education and skill sets, among others.
According to International labour organisation (ILO), increased investments in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), among other areas, are critical in equipping young people with the practical skills needed to thrive in an evolving labour market and improve their overall quality of life.
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Currently, Malawi has only eight public national technical colleges offering formal Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (Tevet), something which is just a drop in the ocean if the demand for quality Tevet in Malawi is to be met.
For instance, National Pre-Apprentice Recruitment records in 2013 indicate that 11,215 candidates applied to go to these technical colleges but only 1,084 were selected.
It is for this reason that government prioritized the establishment of community technical colleges in all districts and constituencies as a strategy to ensure equal access to quality Tevet in Malawi.
A community technical college is a training institution whose educational facilities are available to youth and other members of the community.
Speaking at the official opening of Ngara Community Technical in TA Mwerang’ombe’s area in Karonga on March 20, 2015, President Peter Mutharika said the community technical colleges programme marked a new chapter in the economic development of Malawi as it would address the country’s high rates of unemployment.
Mutharika said: “The establishment of the community technical colleges programme today is a call to all Malawians to change our mind-set, and recognize that it is not only white collar jobs that will develop our country.
“Technical and vocational jobs are an important means of development and self -sufficiency because they provide a turnaround in poverty indicators.”
The ceremony also marked the official launch of the community technical colleges programme countrywide.
The Malawi 2063 vision recognises skills development under Enabler 5: Human Capital Development where investing in the skills and knowledge of the population plays a critical role in the realisation of the three pillars of the Vision- Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation, Industrialisation, and Urbanization.
According to Richard Chirwa, Director of Technical and Vocational Training in the Ministry of Labour and Innovation, there are currently 22 community technical colleges that are operational and evenly distributed across the country, with another six still under construction.
“The provision of skills to youths who are in majority can only be achieved through Tevet institutions. Therefore, establishing more community technical colleges closer to the youths in the communities is vital to reach out to many Malawian youths,” says Chirwa.
Since the launch of the programme a decade ago, Ngara Community Technical College stands out as one that continues to offer quality training opportunities to youth, majority of whom are either in self-employment or open-employment.
Amon Kanyika from Manyanja Village in the area of TA Wasambo in Karonga, is among those who graduated from the college in motorcycle mechanics, now self- employed.
“I was given a tool box as a start-up capital after graduating. I am able to provide for my family, including my siblings through the earnings from repairing motorcycles and generators.
“Various non-governmental organisations also hire me to repair their motorcycles,” says Kanyika.
According to Glyn Nyirongo, Ngara Community Technical College Principal, the college has graduated about 1,000 students in various trades since its inception.
Nyirongo says the college currently offers courses in Brick Laying, Carpentry and Joinery, Motorcycle Mechanics, Fabrication and Welding, Plumbing, Tailoring Fashion and Design and the newly introduced Artisanal Small-scale Mining.
He explains that the Artisanal Small-scale Mining course was introduced in response to the dire need for youth to acquire skills and knowledge in mineral identification and processing in order to have trained manpower in the mining sector.
“We looked at the availability of coal, limestone and uranium in the Karonga, Rumphi and Chitipa stretch,” says Nyirongo.
He adds that the college also engaged with the communities and found out a lack of knowledge about mining apart from locals primarily being used as labourers in the mines.
Ngara Community Technical College is the only one of its kind that offers a course in artisanal and small-scale mining in Malawi.
Abigail Simbeye, 22, is one of the students currently undergoing training in Artisanal Small- Scale Mining at the college.
“Most accidents in the small-scale mining sector occur due to lack of knowledge and skills. This course will provide me with the expertise needed in the mining sector,” says Simbeye.
However, Nyirongo expresses concern over erratic funding in the past five years which he says is affecting the effective delivery of training.
“Despite facing funding challenges, the college continues to provide quality training. We have been engaging in income generating activities such as offering locals short courses and training in boat making,” says Nyirongo.
On his part, Chirwa acknowledges that his ministry is aware of the funding inadequacies in community technical colleges which he says have arisen due to an increase in the cost of training materials, tools and equipment.
“The main sources of funding have been government’s Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) funding, training subsidies from the Tevet Authority and in some cases, development funding from partners. The government is also exploring industry participation in financing training and collaborating with stakeholders to review the funding modalities,” says Chirwa.
The good news is that the new Mutharika administration promises to revitalize the Community Technical College program through its 2025-2030 manifesto by increasing support to the Tevet system by among others constructing more Community Technical Colleges in all constituencies and facilitating access to business capital for graduating trainees.
This would ensure that more students like Mwangomba gain valuable skills to lead independent and prosperous lives after graduation.
“Given the rising youth unemployment, the community technical colleges programme will always remain a beacon of hope for the youth,” Mwangomba says.
