Skills gap

THE story of Aisea Vasu in FT 02/04 was inspirational.

He is an automotive engineer graduate from the training centre at Nadave Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD) and is apparently on call around the country – especially in the rural areas – for his skills in the repair of machinery and vehicles.

He is filling the skills gap that the CATD was purposely set up in the ’80s to fill.

It’s a gap that is about the lack of expertise in rural areas to fix and repair things, like newly-acquired outboard engines, brush-cutters, lawnmowers, chainsaws, cars, trucks, tractors, diggers and so on.

The sad fact is that these are often discarded and left to languish in disrepair when they break down for the lack of the required expertise and spare parts to fix them.

More so, when the place is remote and far from any repair and spare parts facility.

The fact that he is on call around the country indicates that we are yet to bridge this important skills gap.

The CATD and other skills training institutions seem to have their work already cut out for them for the near future.

There is indeed an urgent need to train more of our rural people to be in a position to fix and maintain their machines and equipment.

I hope that our 2021/2022 budget will continue to provide funds in support of such training, as well as the funding of CATD. EDWARD BLAKELOCK

Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour