Vocational subjects promoted

Mangwe RDC Chief Executive Officer, Nketa Mangoye Dlamini, said that area of development needed a lot of input so as to boost human capacity. There is no better way to develop our human capacity than by catching them while they are still within the schooling system, he said.

According to Dlamini, the main objective in the teaching of sciences and technical subjects was to enhance self-reliance and adopt a self-help mind set. The idea is to promote the teaching and learning of science and practical subjects from ordinary to advanced level. It is our hope that then children will find their way into higher education institutions, he said.

The CEO said the districts priority was the teaching of those subjects, which was in line with the Presidential Commission of inquiry into education training which recommended a school curriculum with strong practical components.

We, as council, are aware that the ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has adopted this recommendation and is currently implementing the pathway education structure that is general academic subjects as route one. Route two is the vocational, business and commercial subjects. Practical subjects provide life skills and almost guarantee development of the individual and general entrepreneurship, he said.

Through studying technical subjects, Dlamini said he hoped that the focus would shift from pass rates to skill acquisition that enables learners to generate livelihood and assist in the development of their communities.

Also, by building on technical or vocational subjects schools can be run as business enterprises promoting sustainability of these and other programmes, said the CEO. We have agreed with the local and provincial education that there is need to seriously put a lot of energy into this matter.

However, Dlamini said the council was still seeking for funding for the evolution, which was a mammoth task as the programme was still at developmental stage. All interested individuals locally, regionally and internationally, especially those who originate from this district, should feel free to help in any way possible. The council will also use resources generated in the local authority to help in this endeavour. It should be noted that more funding is needed so that it covers the whole district effectively, he said.