THE government has formalised the skills for 20,234 youth and provided them with opportunities to attend various colleges to further their education to create self-employment and income generation in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 fiscal years.

Patrobas Katambi, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disability), said this yesterday in the National Assembly when responding to a question from Special Seats MP, Latifa Juakali, who asked what plans the government has to recognise youth with unrecognised skills to support socio-economic development.

He said the government has continued to recognise youth with unrecognised skills by improving policy to enable them participate in development activities and become self-reliant in line with National Youth Development Policy (2007) 2024 edition and National Employment Policy of 2008.

He added that 20,234 youth had their skills formalised through training in various fields, including tailoring, sewing, construction, and technical skills and have been employed in various government projects.

“Even in the construction of large projects like the Mwalimu Nyerere Dam and the SGR, the youth had   education, but they learnt through the construction process. Now we are formalising their skills and sending them to various colleges to further enhance their skills and we will use them for infrastructure repairs,” he said.

He mentioned that   efforts were being carried out through   special programme   - recognition of prior learning, and over 616 youth had their skills formalised and received certificates through the BBT programme. Additionally, 500 youth were awarded certificates to recognise their skills after receiving further training, and 234 youth had their livestock management skills recognised through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

He also mentioned that the government formalises and recognises youth skills obtained outside the formal education system, designing and implementing special programmes through sectors that create significant employment, such as agriculture through the Jenga Kesho (BBT) programme, entrepreneurship and mining through the Mining for a Better Tomorrow (MBT) programme.

The government is also strengthening practical training for students pursuing diplomas and programmes   related to the Education and Training Policy of 2014, edition 2023.

He further pointed out that the government is drafting strategic infrastructure that drives the economy, which enhances skills and contributes to job creation, citing the construction of the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Dam and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) roads.

The government is also designing and implementing skill development programmes aimed at improving the workforce skills such as additional training for current employees and entrepreneurs, and emphasising the use of ICT to create many job opportunities for the youth.