Abstract
Africa is plagued with persistent low competitiveness ranking at the lower rungs of the Global value Chain ladder in spite of the abundant resources the continent is endowed with. The demographic composition coupled with enormous resources of the continent are expected to be core drivers of comparative advantage in the quest for development, but these have not been properly harnessed. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is believed to be pivotal to achieving targeted national or regional development goals, however, this critical aspect of education is being grossly neglected on the continent. TVET thrives through a coordinated synergy with economic environment in which it operates. A conducive environment for employment generating investments will strengthen the TVET systems and promote the development of key economic sectors to attract the requisite foreign development inputs. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides an avenue for flow of development inputs into Africa and fulfilling the BRI objectives in achieving inclusive growth and development in Africa requires effective capacity building beyond skills training of manpower. This paper examined the nexus between TVET and development, the opportunities available for BRI and TVET in key sectors of the economies in Africa. It emphasized that beyond the acquisition of skills, the continent should utilize the opportunities of BRI platform to promote inclusive growth and development by providing conducive environment for job creation through regional integration driven by infrastructure development, industrialization coupled with urbanization, and investment in research and development. It recommended that African countries should build and maintain strong and development driven TVET systems by taking cue from Chinese successful experience. The paper posited that the design of TVET system should dovetail with the national, regional and continental development goals to guaranty inclusive growth and development across the continent. Key w ords: Belt and Road Initiative, TVET, Development, Africa DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-12-07 Publication date: December 31 st 2019
Highlights
The post-independence era in Africa ushered in a rapid expansion in education, as the population continued to grow coupled with the considerable success in the Education for All (EFA) programmes, significant pressure came on the post-basic education system, especially, at the secondary education level with many countries on the continent making inadequate provisions for effective accommodation of the increase at the post-basic education level
This paper identified three areas that could be leveraged on to integrate the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provisions into building skills development and employment oriented Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) delivery in Africa at regional levels including manufacturing, infrastructure development and agriculture
With the abundant natural and human resources abounding in Africa, embracing TVET is an inevitable option in Africa's quest for development to bring the army of young population out of unemployment, poverty and poverty triggered insecurity
Summary
The post-independence era in Africa ushered in a rapid expansion in education, as the population continued to grow coupled with the considerable success in the Education for All (EFA) programmes, significant pressure came on the post-basic education system, especially, at the secondary education level with many countries on the continent making inadequate provisions for effective accommodation of the increase at the post-basic education level. Provision of TVET needs to transcend ordinary skills acquisition and include simultaneous implementation of reforms that engender the promotion and expansion of opportunities for business development and employment creation, with emphasis on skills for the sectors with the most promising employment prospects in order to have measurable impacts (AFDB 2008; Afeti) This is imperative as investment in knowledgeable, skilled and competent workforce has become a global competitiveness strategy for nations due to the significance of knowledgeable, skilled and competent workforce in how attractive a nation is to foreign investors and how soon technology transfer can be effected when required This paper identified three areas that could be leveraged on to integrate the BRI provisions into building skills development and employment oriented TVET delivery in Africa at regional levels including manufacturing, infrastructure development and agriculture
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