1. Private Sector Cooperation
Private sector engagement is a substantial contributing factor to the success of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in Africa. Youth unemployment can only be addressed if learners are equipped with the skills needed on the labour market. For this reason, the private sector should be involved The private sector plays an important role in skills development. It comprises of large corporations, for-profit institutions, voluntary organisations and NGO’s. The engagement of the private sector is especially crucial in the implementation of technical vocational education and training (TVET). Its role in TVET is not only in terms of training provision but also includes a range of other areas. These comprise policy formulation,in curricula development, the setting of occupational standardspriority setting, labour demand forecasting and , curricular and quality indicators, on-the-job training. To ensure maximum success, it is crucial for governments to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with the private sector – for instance, regarding , apprenticeship and employment. This suggests a number of prominent areas for private sector engagement in TVET, including partnerships in the development of national TVET strategies and joint management of TVET schools.
1.1. Participation in policy making and oversight
In Africa, there are many untapped opportunities for public authorities to create favourable framework conditions for private-sector engagement in TVET delivery. Involving the private sector from the start can improve the quality and success of TVET implementation at the national level. This is one reason why At the same time, private stakeholders should be more actively involved in are rarely involved in shaping framework conditions for skills development – for example, regarding the integration of learning and working at the workplace. To ensure accountability and sustainability, it is important to institutionalise and technical vocational education and training. This session elaborated on the opportunities and challenges for public authorities to create favourable framework conditions for private-sector engagement in TVET delivery, specifically looking at opportunities topublic and private sector cooperation institutionalize the cooperation between private and public stakeholders in the integration of learning and working at the workplace.
1.2. Participation in training delivery and assessment
The advantage of privatePrivate sector involvement is that it ensures reach, commitment and efficiency as well as transfers of technology and best practices. Often the Moreover, the merits of pprivate sector involvementleads the charge in terms of which include diversity, cost effectiveness and accountability when are elements which are lacking in thecompared to government programmes implemented by the government. Therefore, private sector companies may be involved in funding, training and sharing knowledge with workers. The the private sector also can strengthen s skills development by contributing to governance though national committees or institutional arrangements. In addition, tThe private sector helps to identify skills, deliver monitoring and evaluation activities as well as feed into curricula development, deliver monitoring and evaluation activities. In many contexts, public TVET are regardeIn terms of funding models, d as vulnerable and unreliable; to make up the shortfall TVET may require financing through the private sector. This may include skills training being could be supported paid for through the contributions of beneficiaries including employers and trainees.
1.3. Defining skills demand
Globally, 38 per cent of the employers have difficulties filling jobs due to the lack of skilleds of applicants. Integrating labour market needs into the TVET system is necessary to ensure that national skills needs are matched. This highlights the importance of involving the private sector in determining the skills demand. TVET curricula and training should be linked to the skills and occupations needed on the labour market. This approach promotes employability and addresses the shortage of well-trained and skilled workers in Africa.
The private sector has continuously filled the gap of demand and supply of skilled professionals. Therefore, integrating labour market needs into the TVET system and linking it with better outcomes is a pressing issue in TVET provision today. Globally, 38 per cent of the employers have difficulties filling jobs due to the lack of skills of applicants. This further indicates the importance of involving the private sector in determining the skills demand.
1.4. Development of training for new economic sectors
One of the most recent and important innovative developments in the Africa’s TVET sector has been the adoption of a holistic approach in recent years has been a paradigm shift making TVET a more holistic policy to adopt andto recognisze the acquisition of skills in all learning frameworks - formal, informal and non-formal settings. This This TVET strategy opens up the possibility to explore more new opportunities, including those offered by globaliszation, technology and advances in new production systems. In addition, this the new TVET strategy will also exposes the youth to other areas of production such as plantations, diamond, gold mines, workshops and industries.
