Education and skills development expert Ham Wilson Lukurwe has urged young people and parents to consider Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a practical pathway to employment, saying the system equips learners with job-ready skills in a relatively short time.
Speaking about the structure and benefits of the TVET pathway, Lukurwe explained that learners can join the TVET system as early as completion of their Primary Seven and quickly progress through different certification levels while gaining practical competencies.
“Someone can choose to enter into a TVET system at a primary seven level, and I can tell you that three years later, as young as they are, they get a junior certificate,” Lukurwe said.
He added that the system is designed to allow learners to advance step by step while continuing to build their technical skills.
“They can come back for an advanced certificate. I can assure you that in a very short time, this young man or young woman will have the right skills,” he said.
According to Lukurwe, individuals who pursue vocational training often enjoy a competitive edge in the labour market because their training focuses on practical competencies that employers need.
“This person who has taken a TVET system will have a comparative advantage. Even in the world of work, even if it was for employment, they will have a comparative advantage because they will be knowing what to do,” he explained.
He also pointed out that the TVET pathway remains flexible for learners who may first complete lower secondary education before pursuing vocational training.
“You can complete your senior four, get into a vocation, do it for two years. Now you can take a decision after your course. You can go for a diploma, a job or start your own business in what you have been skilled in,” Lukurwe said.
The education expert described the TVET model as an efficient route that allows learners to acquire employable skills quickly while still leaving room for further academic progression.
“This is a very good pathway,” he said.
Employers have long argued that strengthening TVET systems is critical to addressing youth unemployment by equipping young people with practical skills aligned with labour market needs.
Lukurwe’s remarks reflect the objectives of the WeWork project, a key initiative aimed at equipping young people with skills for decent and green jobs.
His remarks add to the growing push for greater recognition of technical and vocational training as a viable and rewarding alternative to traditional academic routes, particularly for young people seeking faster entry into the world of work or entrepreneurship.
