Diane Corner, British High Commissioner to Tanzania

British High Commissioner Diane Corner has launched a project that will be implemented by the Vocational Education Training Authority (Veta) in Mtwara region. The project will focus on increasing jobs for youths in the region.

According to her, the Veta the project will be supported by an international development charity VSO in partnership with BG Tanzania. It’s expected to focus on oil, and gas industry, and related services.

“Due to the increase in exploration activities by oil and gas companies in Mtwara, the demand for skilled labour is growing. While the number of employees required operating oil and gas plant is not very high,” she said, when launching the project on Tuesday.

Corner said the project would improve vocational training skills and employability of local people by several means, including raising Veta Mtwara standards for craftsmanship skills.

The project, the envoy said, would be enable the young people to attain internationally recognised levels in eight areas, namely English language, food preparation, plumbing, welding, carpentry, motor vehicle as well as electrical installation and maintenance.

She said through the project, Mtwara region’s Veta branch will be promoted as a centre of excellence for training vocational trainers in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas fields.

At least 280 students will benefit from the project, which will be given internationally recognised certificates in their respective trades by the end of the project in 2014.

Veta Mtwara will be capable of producing a steady stream of qualified craftsmen and teachers and will be able to roll out this model to other vocational institutes, as required.

Veta director general Zebadiah Moshi said the project was a pilot one and that it could be replicated at larger scale in coordination with other initiatives to improve vocational training in the country.

BG Tanzania country manager Matt Wilks said they are delighted to be working in partnership with Veta and VSO to enhance the employability of local people in Mtwara and beyond.

“This multi-year initiative will give us a good basis to start building the skills of Tanzanian people so that they can benefit fully from the economic opportunities that will be created both in the oil and gas sector and the wider economy,” he said.

VSO country director Jean Van Wetter hailed the partnership between the government, private sector and civil society. He added, “It is essential that we work together to create more jobs for young people in Tanzania”.