697 graduate from community colleges
President Arthur Peter Mutharika has promised young people in the country of continued support in skills development through the construction of 17 more community colleges.
Mutharika made the remarks yesterday when he presided over the graduation of the first cohort of community technical colleges at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe.
“We would like to create more schools and jobs for the young people in the country. We want to make our economy big and Malawi prosper. I promise to finish the remaining colleges and also link the community colleges with prospective employers so that the skills learnt should be used adequately,” he said.
Mutharika reiterated that the community colleges were established to provide employable skills for decent jobs for youths and Malawians.
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) chairperson Gilbert Chilinde said the graduates will be linked with institutions that match with their skills and help them achieve more.
“Since the launch of the community colleges in March 2015, youths have been trained in various skills and we believe that the skills awarded to them will be of great importance in their lives. We have already witnessed success stories from some of the students and 223 of the graduands today will continue their studies at national technical colleges,” he said.
Dolphrine Ligola, 26, a student representative of the granduands said the programme has transformed her life as she is now employed and able to take care of her family.
“After finishing my Form Four, I was impregnated and the father of the child denied responsibility. I was hopeless and had no future until I got registered in bricklaying at Chilobwe Community College in Blantyre. My skills landed me a job at Dell Construction and I am now able to look after my child. I have also built my own house,” she said.
As a way of empowering them, the 697 graduates have each been provided a tool kit in their various fields of tailoring, bricklaying, plumbing and mechanics.
