CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the brief information provided by the Government in relation to its 2000 direct request which indicates that in the revised National Employment Policy draft, the expansion of vocational training institutions and the enhancement of their capacity in coordinating vocational education, training, vocational guidance and counselling, as well as other interventions such as start-up capital and social protection is emphasized as a precondition for creating an enabling environment for employment creation. The Committee understands that in the framework of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, as indicated in the Second Progress Report 2001/02 (published in March 2003), the United Republic of Tanzania has reached a significant performance in the education sector attributed to the implementation of the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP). The challenge is now to further improve the quality of education, the learning environment, eliminate gender inequality at all levels, and improve health and other services. The Committee also understands that the Government is conducting a demand-driven skills training programme for employment promotion in 19 districts. It therefore requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether any particular difficulties have been encountered in achieving the employment and training objectives established in its Poverty Reduction Strategy and the manner in which the cooperation of workers’ and employers’ organizations has been ensured, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 1 and 5 of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee would appreciate receiving in the Government’s next report disaggregated statistics on education and training participation and on placement rates.