From teacher to school owner

Every human being has their area of expertise and for Blantyre-based Charles Kawerawera his teaching gift was discovered when he taught adult literacy classes at a tender age.

He was motivated further when he worked at Indetrust as an advisor for those venturing into new businesses. For him, the advisory role was as good as teaching.

Kawerawera later realised that he could do more with his teaching passion and the entrepreneurial skills acquired over the years by setting up an institution of higher learning.

Today, his dream has been fulfilled as he is the proud owner of one of Blantyre Technical College, which offers electrical and electronics courses.

“I can boast that I am on my way to realising my dreams. I have always wanted to have a school that would teach not just theory, but practical lessons as well,” he says.

Opened in 2012, Blantyre Technical College offers certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas in electrical installation.

If the students do well, they stand a chance to enrol with the University of Malawi (Unima) where they can pursue a degree programme.

“Since we opened the school a few years back, we have had a good number of students who have secured themselves jobs in various companies in Malawi and others that have enrolled with the Malawi Polytechnic for further studies,” says Kawerawera, who is also one of the lecturers at the school.

He looks forward to introducing more courses at the school to ensure provision of quality education for students who don’t make it to Unima.

“All we want is to uplift the education standards…It is a pity that most students that graduate in various schools in the country are unable to carry tasks thrown at them by their employers because they were not taught the practical aspects at school,” he says.

With only three years in operation, institution has been trusted by Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurial Training Authority (Teveta), a regulatory body established by Act of Parliament, which has registered 20 students to acquiring practical skills in electrical installation at the institution.

“I take it to be an honour that an organisation as big as Teveta has given us students to train and equip with skills to do with electronics. This shows that we have built a good relationship with the government and that we are trustworthy,” he says with confidence.

Kawerawera is a holder of a Degree in electrical engineering which he obtained at Rochester Institute of Technology in London in 1979. He also holds a degree in paper science and engineering specialising in forestry which he obtained in 1977.

He is currently the acting secretary in the Technical Providers Association in the Southern Region.