WB, Govt Supports implementation of SDF’s 2.3bn/-Worth Innovative Training And E-Learning Window -

By STAFF REPORTER, In Dodoma

THE Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) through its flagship skills promotion tailor-made robust initiative, Skill Development Fund (SDF), is supporting implementation of a vital project for the provision of key innovative training through E- learning delivery mode (EDM).

TEA has been mandated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) to manage the Innovative training and e-learning Window financed under SDF, the move which is financed jointly by the government and the World Bank (WB).

The on-going digital training is expected to gobble up to around 2.3bn/- upon its completion whereby among others, it focuses to finance at least 15 local training providers, in terms of building their (institutions) capacity to the tune of being able to effectively provide the innovative training and e-learning.

Masozi Nyirenda, the coordinator for skills development fund at TEA told Semablog during an interview that the fund (2.3bn/-) was meant to cover for the costs of development and project governance, coordination, monitoring and evaluation funds, among others.

“The program commenced in October this year and has been designed for implementation in two different phases. During the first phase of the Window, TEA received a total of 1,160,575,895.00/- for supporting smooth implementation of the program,” he said.

And Nyirenda further detailed that, so far out of the received funds, TEA has injected a total of 899,949,999.9/- to at least seven involved training providers, including the Institute of Finance Management (IFM), Institute of Adult Education (IAE), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Morogoro Vocational Teachers Training College, Ikwiriri Folk Development College, Nzovwe Folk Development College as well as Kibaha Folk Development College.

“As part of the project’s first phase, the disbursed funds is assisting the training providers to build capacity of the institutions in terms of building e-learning training platforms, procurement of ICT facilities and software that supports e-learning, capacity building of trainers/ tutors on e-learning pedagogy, converting conventional course contents in e-learning formats, advertisement of the courses to public, enrolment of qualified applicants, training, assessment and certification processes.,” he stated.

Moreover, he communicated that through the helpful program, all qualified applicants are being enrolled, trained and provided with certificates free of charge, added: “A total of 260,625,895.01/- has been set aside to cover for project governance, coordination, monitoring and evaluation,”

Divulging more information, the coordinator expressed that the general target of the timely project was to impart the vital training to at least 4,305, saying however, during phase one of its implementation experience the program saw a surge number of applicants who wished to benefit from it, to the tune of 7,556 (4,462 male) -equivalent to 59 percent and 3,094 female (41percent) being far above their expectations.

“We have learned that e-learning platforms can enroll many trainees, beyond our targets. This is one of the indicators that this mode of training is very effective to support more citizens to obtain skills development opportunities, which is a main objective of this project,” he asserted.

He disclosed other local institutions which are involved in offering the innovative -learning program, in the project’s phase two as VETA Kipawa ICT Centre, Tanga Regional Vocational Training and Services Centre, and Kihonda Regional Vocational Training and Services Centre, National College of Tourism and Water Institute, Sengerema Folk Development College, Muhukuru Folk Development College, and Ilula Folk Development College.

On his side, SDF’s supervising officer of innovative training and e-learning, Douglas Mwaisaka, told this publication that the on-line training was based on cybercrime detection and prevention, smart and defensive driving, community-based tourism, water treatment technologies, dairy farming, post-harvest handing and management, digital marketing as well as professional use of communication technologies.

He added, the program was part to cement efforts being initiated by the in cooperation with the World Bank (WB) through a special program, dubbed ‘Education and Skills for Productive Jobs’ (ESPJ).

“The program is part to propel for effective implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) which among others, targets to unlock more employment opportunities for the Tanzanians, especially the youth in six sectors of priorities, including agriculture and agri-business, tourism and hospitality, transportation and logistics, construction, energy, as well as Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector,” he expressed.

He added that the content of innovative training programs must be made public (Public Domain) to allow the public to learn for the purpose of sustainable access to knowledge.

SDF is an initiative under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) which among others focuses to complement efforts by the government to stamp out a challenge of unemployment among the majority of local youth.

The program is a product of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and a Program for Education and Skills for Productive, with the overall vision of minimizing skills gaps by rapidly increasing the supply of graduates with skills relevant to the labor market.

Skills Development Fund (SDF) program focuses to fund diverse training over skill development with an eye to enable youth communities in the country to stand a better opportunity to employ themselves, as well as employ others, with a target to reach out to at least 38,000 youth in the country.

Moreover, implementation of SDF -II commenced during 2019/20 fiscal years whereby a total of 9.7bn/- was set aside for the purpose of empowering a total of 81 institutions to run programs to impart beneficiary students with key skills on six different sectors.

The sectors include agriculture and agribusiness, tourism and customer care services, construction, information technology and energy.

Up to June 2022, the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) rolled out disbursed a total of 8.6bn/- for financing 81 projects, whereby a total of 33,510 youths (17,257 –men, equivalent to 51.5 percent) and 16,253 women- equivalent to 48.5 percent- were imparted with diverse skills within the six sectors of priority during the first and second phases.