THE government will in the next financial year proceed with the construction of 100 technical and vocational training secondary schools, Education minister Prof Adolf Mkenda told the National Assembly yesterday.

Tabling the ministry’s 2024/25 budget estimates pegged at 1.97trn/-, he said that 26 schools will commence enrolment next January, as part of transformation to a skills-oriented education system.

The construction of 65 vocational training colleges will be the main task, with the required teaching and learning tools already provided in 29 vocational colleges, he said.

The move targets the realization of capacity for self-employment on the part of secondary school leavers, with the ministry expecting to register 50 vocational colleges and 100 technical education training colleges, he stated.

The plan will bring to a total of 504 vocational colleges and 885 technical education training colleges countrywide, enrol 190,518 students in vocational colleges and 73,200 students in technical education training colleges starting next year, he said.

This admission plan targets at creating a wider base of skilful graduates more capable of seeking out informal sector openings, with 2,089 students expected at the Morogoro Vocational Teachers Training College (MVTTC).

They will pursue courses that will led to availability of vocational and training teachers in schools, as admission in technical education and vocational training colleges has grown to 235,804 students in 2023/24 from 171,581 in 2022/23, he elaborated.

The Higher Education Students’ Loan Board has disbursed 786.72bn/- to 229,652 students during the past year, extended 6.37bn/-to Samia Scholarships applicants reaching 2,299 students, along with diploma students obtaining 6.11bn/- worth of loans, he stated.

The government has so far recovered 132.73bn/- of loans extended to higher learners, short of the targeted 241bn/- for the year, meanwhile as the ministry has proposed a National Technology Park and drafting a 15-year national technology roadmap, he further noted.

A total of 12 Focal Development Colleges (FDCs) have been raised to zonal and regional innovation and technology support centers, with 61.1bn/- allocated for fast tracking development of science and technology in the education sector, he said.

Similarly, the government plans to build 226 ward secondary schools, 184 secondary school teachers’ housing units, 2,018 primary school classrooms and 797 secondary school classrooms, he specified.

A total of 2,101 trainees in the integrated training for entrepreneurship programme were enlisted, where 1,488 are women, while administering apprenticeship training for 376 students, 195 of them being women, he added.