TANZANIA’s technical and vocational education sector is undergoing significant expansion, with 1,146 registered Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions currently operating across the country, the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) has said.

NACTVET executive secretary, Dr Mwajuma Lingwanda, during the 5th China-Africa TVET academic exchange seminar and achievement exhibition, held over the weekend at NACTVET headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Lingwanda said the institutions fall under three subject boards: Science and Allied Technologies (SAT), Health and Allied Sciences (HAS), and Business, Tourism and Planning (BTP). They deliver competency-based training from National Vocational Awards (NVA) to National Technical Awards (NTA), aiming to align skills with employment demands.

“The focus on hands-on, practical learning is central to our strategy for bridging the gap between education and employment,” she said. “We trust that our Chinese counterparts will find our system useful as we explore future areas for collaboration.”

She added that TVET globally has become a powerful tool for industrial transformation, inclusive growth, and poverty reduction. Tanzania, she said, is committed to enhancing its TVET system by drawing lessons from China’s successful model, particularly in teacher development, digital learning integration, and public-private partnerships.

“In support of national priorities, 12 NACTVET staff have already participated in a China-based exchange programme focusing on innovations in vocational secondary education,” she noted. “The insights gained will play a critical role in shaping Tanzania’s own vocational secondary school model.”

Through collaboration with the China-Africa TVET Alliance, NACTVET has also developed 110 Occupational Standards and 89 Programme Delivery Standards, helping to standardize curricula, improve quality assurance, and streamline skills development in training institutions nationwide.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Fredrick Salukele, director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, said the seminar celebrated a shared vision between Tanzania and China for developing a skilled, innovative, and competitive workforce.

“This platform brings together Tanzanian and Chinese TVET institutions to exchange knowledge, strengthen cooperation, and envision a future where skills and innovation drive sustainable development,” Dr Salukele said.

He underscored that the seminar builds on the momentum of the Beijing summit of the forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which gave a major boost to the vocational education agenda between the two nations.

“It also reflects the strengthening of diplomatic and economic ties between our countries, especially following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s 2022 state visit to China, which elevated our bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said.

Dr Salukele praised the ongoing knowledge and skills exchange between the two countries, calling it a testament to the long-standing and fruitful partnership in education and development.