CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO EMPLOYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE APPRENTICESHIP AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
The Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Higher Education established by the TEVET Act number 13 of 1998 read together with the TEVET (amendment) Act number 11 of 2005. TEVETNs mandate is to regulate, coordinate and monitor Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) in consultation with industry, employers, employees and other stakeholders. Amongst the specific functions of TEVETA includes regulating and coordinating apprenticeship and trade testing systems.
TEVETA is in the process of developing an apprenticeship and mentorship scheme within the context of a wider project being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) called “Growing Inclusive Business”. This project is aimed at promoting innovations for business acceleration to improve the livelihoods for low-income communities for people living in peri urban and urban areas of Zambia. The project is also one of the vehicles for implementing the National Industrial Policy. One of the project strategies is to facilitate an apprenticeship and mentorship programme that will effectively address skills gaps in the agro-processing companies in Central and Copperbelt Provinces of Zambia.
TEVETA, with support from UNDP, collaborated with the MCTI, National Technology and Business Centre in identifying the current and projected skills aps in the agro processing industry in the two provinces. It is within the context of the project that TEVETA is now inviting expressions of interest from employers in the Agro-processing industry in Central and Copperbelt provinces to submit expressions of interest to participate in the said Apprenticeship and Mentorship programme. This programme is intended to attract fresh graduates from TEVETA registered training institutions who are below the age of 26 years in the following areas of specializations:
- Food Handling
- Milling
- Production and Operations Management
- Fitting
- Mechanical
- Electrical,
- and Mechatronics
PURPOSE OF THE APPRENTICESHIP AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
The purpose of this apprenticeship program is to increase private sector participation in skills development and promote smooth transition from school to work.
BENEFITS OF APPRETICESHIP PROGRAMMES TO COMPANIES
- The employer develops own talent inhouse for now and the future.
- Apprenticeships have potential to boost both loyalty and worker retention
- Has potential to strengthen the employer brand of participating companies.
- It gives an employer more staff resources
- New people can revitalize company operations
- An apprentice can increase your bottom line
RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANIES PARTICIPATING ON THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
- Provide planned and supervised opportunities for workplace learning or on-the-job training
- Orient the apprentices to the company’s specific rules and regulations (policies, procedures, methods and operations)
- Evaluate apprentice’s performance
- Comply with all national and local laws, ordinances and codes applicable during the apprenticeship and mentorship programme
- Maintain appropriate portfolio of evidence (performance record for each apprentice) for the apprenticeship period.
APPRENTICESHIP SUPPORT
The Project will provide some support to successful apprentices in form of a monthly training stipend during the period of Apprenticeship and Mentorship programme. (Companies will be expected to comply with the laws that govern Apprenticeship and Mentorship program me).
Applications must submit a detailed application indicating the number of apprentices required by area of specialization and enclose copies of the Company Registration Certificate and tax compliance certificate to the address below:
The Director General
Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority
P/ BagRW16X
Lusaka
The closing date for applications is on Friday 25th October 2019.