Taiwan donates E51m to VOCTIM
MANZINI - The Republic of China on Taiwan has donated E51 million equipment to Gwamile VOTCIM and urged Eswatini to take a leaf on how Taiwan used TVET to turn its economy around.
Ching-Lin Tsuei, the Minister in the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), said this during the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Enhancement Project Equipment handover ceremony, which was held at Gwamile Vocational and Commercial Training Institute at Matsapha (VOCTIM) yesterday.
Event
The event was graced by the presence of the Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi.
He said for Taiwan, an island with limited natural resources and a population of 23 million people in an area twice the size of Eswatini, the development and use of human resources, played a pivotal role in sustainable economic growth. He said Taiwan’s Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET) had a history spanning 60 years and it played an essential part in the country’s economic development that drew world attention and made it hold a strategic position in the global economy.
“Now, Taiwan is a top player in the world’s information, communication and technology (ICT) industry, as well as a major supplier of goods across the industrial spectrum,” Tsuei said.
Therefore, he said the donated stateof-the-art TVET project equipment was meant to advance the automotive repairs and mechanical engineering workshops for the institution and this was after they benchmarked South Africa’s TVET training and trade testing centres.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education and Training, Nxumalo, said their commitment to TVET aligned seamlessly with the recently unveiled Eswatini TVET Policy 2022-2027. He said this policy blueprint outlined their vision for a robust and responsive vocational education system one that equipped the youth with practical skills, fostered innovation and bridged the gap between education and the industry. “By emphasising quality, relevance and inclusivity, we pave the way for a skilled workforce that can drive our nation’s prosperity” the minister said.
Furthermore, the minister said in the wake of economic challenges, government’s Fiscal Recovery Strategy 2018-2022 had been their guiding light. He said as they allocated resources, they recognised that investing in TVET was not merely an expenditure, but an investment in the country’s collective future.
“By channelling funds into curriculum enhancement, infrastructure upgrades and stakeholder engagement, we fortify the pillars of our economic revival,” the minister said.
Equipment
On the same note, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Buthelezi, said the equipment would facilitate acceleration of service delivery and minimise trade testing backlog in welding and automotive trades. Minister Buthelezi further said the equipment was also assisting the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in conducting trade tests for welding and auto electrical.