Transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Refugees: Greening the Southern Africa Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Ecosystem

The United Nations Transforming Education Summit - TES: Solutions Day aims to mobilize collective actions and initiatives around Thematic Action Tracks - that require greater attention and action to accelerate progress on the education 2030 Agenda and transform education. This event will contribute to the second Thematic Action Track of "Learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development".

Background

The Transforming Education Summit spotlights five areas (“Thematic Action Tracks ”) that require greater attention and action to accelerate progress on the education 2030 Agenda and transform education:
  1. Inclusive, equitable, safe, and healthy schools
  2. Learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development
  3. Teachers, teaching and the teaching profession
  4. Digital learning and transformation
  5. Financing of education
Each Thematic Action Track produced a discussion paper that presented the key elements of transformation and key recommendations, based on research evidence, good practices collated, broad consultations, and discussions at the Transforming Education Pre-Summit. This event contributes to the second Thematic Action Track of Learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development.

Co-organizers

  • Ministry of Higher & Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Zimbabwe
  • Ministry of Education, Malawi
  • International Labour Organization
  • African Union Commission
  • Humana People to People

Summary

Climate change-related impacts and youth unemployment are the most defining challenges for Africa in our times.

Putting in place the right set of education policies can make climate action deliver more and better jobs. In this context, TVET is expected to play a key role in preparing learners for emerging green jobs and providing them with the right skills and competencies, including in self-employment. TVET can also improve responsiveness to changing skill demands and lower the barriers that limit access to the labour market.

Nevertheless, while demand for green skills is growing globally, TVET systems in many countries struggle to respond and cater to these needs.

In line with action track 2 regarding education for sustainable development, the main objective of this session is to mobilise the education community to adapt TVET curricula for the green and circular economy.

The ultimate goal is to contribute to enhanced resilience towards climate change impacts while addressing the rapidly changing skills demands. This, in turn, will empower youth to tap into the millions of jobs that are expected to be created by 2030 to achieve the 1.5-degree pathway.

To that end, the session will bring together the Governments of Zimbabwe and Malawi, the African Union Commission, the International Labour Organization and the NGO Humana People to People to examine the current situation and share tools and best practices to catalyse green growth through TVET, including the ILO’s Guidelines for Greening TVET and skills development.

Speakers

Session moderator: Rev. Paul Bayethe Damasane, Deputy Chief Secretary, Office of the President and Cabinet.

Minister Remarks
Hon Prof Amon, Minister of Higher & Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Zimbabwe
Hon Mrs. Agnes Nyalonje, Minister of Education, Malawi

Panel Discussion
Hon Prof Amon Murwira, Minister of Higher & Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Zimbabwe
Hon Mrs. Agnes Nyalonje, Minister of Education, Malawi
Mr. Nicholas Ouma, Senior Youth Advisor, African Union Commission
M. Alette Van Leur, Director of the Sectoral Policies Department, International Labour Organization
Mr. Snorre Westgaard, Chairman, Humana People to People