The Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation, Joel Chigona, on Thursday conducted an inspection of the distribution of machinery and equipment to technical colleges at the Trade Testing Centre in Lilongwe, as part of government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education across the country.
The equipment being distributed includes transformers, engines, drilling machines, plumbing equipment, compressors, heavy-duty juice-making machines, sawing machines, profile-cutting machines and toolboxes, all aimed at enhancing practical training in technical colleges.
Speaking during the inspection, Minister Chigona directed that all remaining equipment should be distributed to technical colleges without delay to ensure learners begin benefiting immediately.
“We want to see these resources reaching institutions promptly so that students can acquire the practical skills required by industry,” said Chigona.
During the inspection, Mzuzu Technical College received its allocation of machinery from the equipment stored at the Trade Testing Centre.
Other technical colleges have also been collecting their equipment from the same facility.
Deputy Principal of Mzuzu Technical College, Lawrence Chipale, welcomed the development, describing the equipment as a major boost to skills training.
“There has been a huge gap in terms of having the necessary machinery to train fully skilled and relevant artisans,” Chipale said.
“The machines we have collected today are a big plus and will greatly help in giving students market-relevant, hands-on skills.”
He added that technical colleges prioritise practical training, and the new equipment will strengthen their capacity to produce graduates who are ready for the labour market and industry demands.
“At technical colleges we focus on hands-on skills, and these machines are adding value to what we already do, enabling us to produce students who are industry-ready,” he said.
The Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation has also indicated that part of the equipment will be distributed to community technical colleges that are nearing completion, as part of efforts to expand access to skills development across the country.
So far, Salima, Soche, Nasawa, Lilongwe and Namitete technical colleges have already collected their equipment.
