Mbabane – Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have welcomed the Erasmus+ Program, describing it as a timely intervention that will help transform vocational education in the country through collaboration, curriculum modernisation and capacity building.
Speaking during the Erasmus+ Programme Information Session, Gwamile Vocational Training Institute principal Lucky Ndlovu applauded the European Union for introducing the programme, saying it would enable local TVET institutions to network with counterparts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and internationally.
Ndlovu said the programme would allow institutions to learn from well-established and highly regarded TVET colleges globally and adapt best practices to the local context, ultimately improving the quality of education in Eswatini.
He noted that the world was rapidly moving towards digitalisation and said local institutions could not afford to be left behind. Ndlovu said Erasmus+ funding would assist TVET institutions to review and modernise their curricula in line with global standards, adding that there was a growing need for institutions to move towards e-learning.
His views were echoed by Lindelwa Simelane of BSA Training Centre, who called on TVET institutions to collaborate as they work towards transforming the sector.
Simelane said TVET institutions had an obligation to produce graduates who were ready for the demands of industry, adding that the Erasmus+ Programme would open opportunities for institutions to explore current industry trends and practices.
Nhlangano Industrial Training College principal Dr Mlondi Mkhonta said the Erasmus+ Programme would play a key role in capacity building for local TVET institutions.
He said many training institutions were still using outdated curriculum, which resulted in graduates struggling to adapt when they entered the workplace. Mkhonta said the programme would help institutions acquire modern machinery, noting that students were often trained using old equipment only to find high-technology machinery in industry, forcing them to relearn skills and placing them at a disadvantage.
Ngwane Park Vocational Training Centre principal Phindile Maziya said the programme would assist her institution to address longstanding infrastructure and equipment challenges.
Maziya said Ngwane Park was one of the oldest vocational institutions in the country and required renovations to bring its facilities to acceptable standards, adding that some classrooms were in a dilapidated state. She said the institution was also facing a shortage of equipment, while plans were underway to introduce new programmes that would require additional resources.
She added that the institution had already begun engaging other training institutions locally and within the region to form partnerships, in line with Erasmus+ requirements that projects involve collaboration among at least four institutions.
Maziya said the process of forming partnerships was at an advanced stage and expressed hope that it would be concluded successfully.
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