Ministry admits technical education failing to match global trends
The Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation has conceded that the country’s technical education is struggling to match the global technology evolutions despite being relevant to the economy.
The ministry’s director of assessment and certification services Joseph Chirombo said this in Lilongwe during the WorldSkills Africa Malawi Regional Competition 2025 hosted by Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training (Tevet) Authority.
He said: “What we are lackin is to match the pace at which technologies are developing versus our curriculum.
“But in as far as the national standards are concerned, our graduates come out of college fully fledged and they deliver.”
Chirombo said Malawi is failing to keep pace with the new technologies.
“We are also lagging behind in the manner we review our curriculum to match with new trends in technologies,” he said.
In his remarks, Tevet Authority executive director Elwin Sichiola said the competition, which began in 2023, aligns with the authority’s goal of promoting skills development to drive innovation, employability and economic growth.
“This is the second skills competition, but as Tevet Authority, we take this competition seriously because the winning team can participate at regional and possibly global levels in China next year,” he said.
One of the contestants in welding and fabrication Aisha Chingaipe of Salima Technical College said the competition is inspiring as it provides a stage to showcase their skills.
The event brought together 160 students to showcase skills in information and communications technology, food production, bricklaying, tailoring, fabrication and welding and plumbing.
A recent study by African Centre for Economic Transformation found that the continent’s demographic dividend can only be realised if countries treat vocational education as a driver of transformation.
