Parliament has handed the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Bill, 2024, which introduces important reforms to Uganda’s vocational schooling sector.
Among crucial provisions is the merger of key regulatory our bodies, rendering a number of current boards redundant, a transfer aimed toward streamlining governance and enhancing effectivity inside the sector.
The boards dissolved embody the Uganda Business, Technical and Examinations Board (UBTED), the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board, and the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Examinations Board. Their capabilities might be absorbed by newly created entities underneath the TVET Council, which is able to now function the central authority for regulating and accrediting TVET establishments throughout the nation.
The dissolution of those boards, as specified by Clause 126 of the Bill, is anticipated to scale back redundancy and enhance effectivity within the administration of vocational schooling and coaching.
The transfer additionally goals to centralise management underneath a single physique – the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board, which is able to oversee the brand new construction and harmonise the nation’s vocational coaching programs.
In a report offered on Tuesday, 03 December 2024, and adopted by the House, the Committee on Education and Sports, led by its chairperson, Hon. James Kubeketerya, addressed governance lapses and institutional overlaps inside the TVET system.
The committee highlighted how these points had hindered the sector’s capability to fulfill the rising demand for expert labour.
“The committee observes that clause 126(5) leaves the transition of the workers of the 2 boards to the dedication of the minister and topic to availability of positions. This will render some workers unemployed and is thus unfair.
The committee additional observes that the availability in clause 128(2) requires the Board to provide a workers member the choice to serve which can also be unfair,” Kubeketerya mentioned.
While the merging of those entities goals to scale back redundancy, the committee emphasised that it have to be accomplished with care to minimise disruptions for workers.
The TVET Council will now function the central authority answerable for accrediting TVET establishments and overseeing all the sector.
However, the committee raised issues over the overlap in capabilities between the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the proposed TVET Council. Both our bodies had related tasks, which might result in inefficiencies.
“The overlapping roles between the TVET Council and the NCHE danger creating delays, confusion, and inefficiencies. A unified framework is important to make sure establishments and learners profit from a cohesive accreditation course of.” Kubeketerya defined,
The committee additionally identified the dearth of clear timelines within the Bill for accreditation processes and beneficial that the TVET Council be required to course of accreditation purposes inside six months and notify candidates inside one month, making certain that establishments and college students will not be left in uncertainty.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the significance of fairness in governance. The committee famous that the present proposals for ladies’s illustration in TVET governing our bodies had been inadequate.
“Women’s illustration should transcend tokenism. It ought to minimize throughout all ranges of governance, making certain inclusivity and numerous views,” Kubeketerya urged in the course of the sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
The Bill additionally grants the minister the facility to switch sure tasks to native governments, permitting them to control and license particular TVET suppliers on the native degree. This decentralisation is anticipated to make TVET administration extra accessible and aware of native wants.
During the talk, Hon. George Bhoka, the Obongi County MP, raised issues in regards to the inclusion of casual coaching establishments within the new regulatory framework, notably given the widespread presence of presidential skilling centres that at present function with out minimal entry necessities.
“What would be the eligibility standards for the casual coaching institutes, and on the realm of certification, wanting on the presidential skilling centres throughout the nation the place there isn’t any minimal requirement for entry?” he requested.
Some members additionally questioned the creation of further councils and companies, fearing that the brand new TVET Council may overlap with the NCHE.
Hon. Enos Asiimwe (NRM, Kabula County, Lyantonde) identified the potential redundancy of including extra management layers inside the identical sector.
“These are two councils that already want technical heads, right here we’re creating an govt head, we have now an govt head for NCHE, and they’re all underneath one sector,” he mentioned.
Despite these issues, the Bill handed with help from most members, and the House adopted the committee’s report. The report’s suggestions, together with making certain a good transition for workers from merging boards and distributing tasks equitably, had been additionally accepted.
