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 geared toward streamlining governance and bettering 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 features can be absorbed by newly created entities beneath 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 predicted to scale back redundancy and enhance effectivity within the administration of vocational schooling and coaching.
The transfer additionally goals to centralise management beneath 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 methods.
In a report introduced 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 satisfy the rising demand for expert labour.
“The committee observes that clause 126(5) leaves the transition of the employees of the 2 boards to the dedication of the minister and topic to availability of positions. This will render some employees unemployed and is thus unfair.
The committee additional observes that the supply in clause 128(2) requires the Board to offer a employees 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 employees.
The TVET Council will now function the central authority chargeable for accrediting TVET establishments and overseeing the complete sector.
However, the committee raised considerations over the overlap in features between the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the proposed TVET Council. Both our bodies had comparable duties, 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 critical to make sure establishments and learners profit from a cohesive accreditation course of.” Kubeketerya defined,
The committee additionally identified the shortage of clear timelines within the Bill for accreditation processes and advisable that the TVET Council be required to course of accreditation functions inside six months and notify candidates inside one month, making certain that establishments and college students usually are not 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 lower throughout all ranges of governance, making certain inclusivity and numerous views,” Kubeketerya urged throughout the sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
The Bill additionally grants the minister the facility to switch sure duties to native governments, permitting them to control and license particular TVET suppliers on the native stage. This decentralisation is predicted to make TVET administration extra accessible and attentive to native wants.
During the controversy, Hon. George Bhoka, the Obongi County MP, raised considerations in regards to the inclusion of casual coaching establishments within the new regulatory framework, significantly 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, trying on the presidential skilling centres throughout the nation the place there is no such thing as a minimal requirement for entry?” he requested.
Some members additionally questioned the creation of further councils and businesses, 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 similar sector.
“These are two councils that already want technical heads, right here we’re creating an govt head, we’ve got an govt head for NCHE, and they’re all beneath one sector,” he mentioned.
Despite these considerations, the Bill handed with assist from most members, and the House adopted the committee’s report. The report’s suggestions, together with making certain a good transition for employees from merging boards and distributing duties equitably, had been additionally accepted.
