Minister of Labour Agness NyaLonje has described the newly launched Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (Tevet) 2024-30 strategic plan as a major milestone towards achieving aspirations outlined in Malawi 2063.

She said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of the plan themed ‘Rethinking Tevet’ to guide the Tevet Authority in implementing its mandate of regulating, facilitating and promoting Tevet to contribute to the government’s long-term development strategy agenda.

NyaLonje said that while the mandate of her ministry is to develop and protect the labour force, Tevet has the role of fulfilling the first half of the mandate, adding that the plan will also ensure students are well-equipped to deliver services in and outside the country.

She said: “Malawi’s development cannot happen until we have skilled youths and with this strategic plan, we should begin to witness improved skills for the needs of the industry and economy.

NyaLonje (R) gives a copy of the strategic plan to one of the Tevet students

“We must focus on innovation, science and technology because that is likely to be the growth area for human capital.”

Tevet Authority executive director Elwin Sichiola said the strategic plan will help in the country’s skills development and resolve outstanding issue.

“We need to ask ourselves why employers are not satisfied with our graduates. We need to rethink our target groups and how we let them access Tevet, among others,” he said.

Employers Consultative Association of Malawi executive director George Khaki pledged full support for the strategic plan, saying students make meaningful contributions to the industry and the entire economy.

“We are supporting the plan because, as employers, we are the ones contributing to Tevet through the levy we pay and also because the employers are in need of the skills that are being trained in the Tevet colleges,” he said.

Khaki, however, said there are existing gaps where most graduates are not meeting the standards required by industries, but added they are hoping that the pillars in the plan will address the gaps.

The Tevet Act requires every employer to pay one percent of a company’s basic payroll into the Tevet Fund through the Malawi Revenue Authority

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