President Yoweri Museveni will today (Tuesday) launch the Skilling Uganda project under the Ministry of Education.

Ministers Muyingo (L) and Alupo mingle after the breakfast meeting. PHOTO/Wilfred Sanya

Minister of education and sports Jessica Alupo made the revelation during a breakfast meeting in Kampala on Monday.

She said the time has come to roll out the project to see that emphasis is put into fostering technical skills to meet the current job market.

The breakfast meeting was attended by State minister of higher education John Chrysostom Muyingo, the permanent secretary and members of technical institutions.

The launch will take place at Jinja Vocational Training Institute.

Alupo predicts that Uganda will witness visible fruits of the project as the government of Uganda has already identified what had been lacking before.

The Belgian government signed a sh58b grant with the Ugandan government to support the Business, Technical Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) last year 2011.

The grant was aimed at supporting Kaliro Teachers College, Muni National Teachers College, Abilonino Community Polytechnic Instructors’ Training College in Lira and Mulago Health Tutors Training College.

“By strengthening the management, we hope Uganda will move away from the white-collar jobs system left behind by the colonial masters. We shall change our education system to meet with the demand of the jobs” said Alupo.

Minister Muyingo called for increased efforts into tertiary education.

“People neglected tertiary education. But if we are realize sustainable development, we must strengthen tertiary education in the country,” he said.

By Wilfred Sanya, The New Vision

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.