Mutharika implementing his promise; Community Colleges

Community Colleges ready in January

Malawi government has finally made it public that plans to establish Community Colleges in all 28 districts is over and the commencement of classes is in January 2015 and will start very soon to recruitment teachers.

The establishment of Community Colleges is part of increasing access to Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) for it’s out of school youth and adults who fail to make it to formal TEVET due to limited capacity and restrictive entry requirements.

Secretary for Labour and Manpower Development, Patrick Kabambe in a Press Statement says the first phase of the programme will see the establishment of community colleges in 12 districts of Blantyre, Chitipa, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Karonga, Dowa, Mchinji, Mzimba, Nkhatabay, Nkhotakota, Phalombe and Thyolo. “The rest of the district will follow in the subsequent months.”

“Following the formation of District Management Committees for the establishment of Community Colleges, government has directed that recruitment of first intake should be done in the 30^th November 2014. The recruitment of teachers will start shortly to enable classes to begin in January 2015.” Reads part of the statement

In the statement, Kabambe says trainings will be conducted in the beneficiary communities in order to reduce cost of training on the part of the student and, skills and courses to be offered at a particular college will be in response to the economic activity of particular district.

Government believes that these trainings will increase the skills base which be utilized in the community development projects and establishment of enterprises in addition to increase income for the rural masses and chances of education progression.

To ensure the sustainability of the enterprises, the statement says trainees will be taught business development and entrepreneurship skills.

It adds that Business incubator centres will be established in the areas of focus as one way of building capacity to prospective entrepreneurs to turn innovation into business.

“Generally community colleges will facilitate Graduates to become self employed. However, acquisition for wage employment and progression towards attainment of higher qualification will be encouraged.” Adds the statement

President Professor Peter Mutharika in several rallies and during his campaign promised Malawians that his government will establish community colleges that will offer training opportunities for youth and other members in various communities.

He said such educational facilities shall be owned and run by a community to carter for the youth and adults who would like to further their career and those who did not complete their schooling or never attended school.