By Our Reporter, Mwanza
Tanzania's government is expanding its efforts to tackle youth unemployment and skills shortages through a national skills development programme that is currently supporting 5,746 young people in apprenticeship training across the country.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Dr. Evaline Wilbard Munisi, said on Monday that the programme is designed to build a skilled, innovative and competitive workforce capable of meeting the ambitions of the country's Vision 2050 development agenda.
Dr. Munisi made the remarks during a visit to the Sengerema Folk Development College in Mwanza Region, where she inspected apprenticeship training being offered under the National Skills Development Programme.
"The government's objective is to build a workforce with the skills, knowledge and innovation needed to meet the demands of national development and improve competitiveness in both domestic and international labour markets," she said.
The programme is being implemented by the Prime Minister's Office in partnership with the private sector under a public-private partnership framework.
Under the apprenticeship model, trainees spend about 40% of their time in classroom instruction and more than 60% gaining practical experience in workplaces, with the government covering 100% of tuition costs.
Munisi said the programme's eighth phase has also introduced additional support measures, including health insurance and a monthly transport allowance of 100,000 Tanzanian shillings for two months during practical training placements.
She urged training institutions to continue instilling discipline, ethics and patriotism among trainees while strengthening collaboration with employers to ensure the apprentices acquire relevant skills.
According to Alana Nchimbi, Acting Director of Employment and Skills Development, the programme was launched in the 2016/17 fiscal year to enhance workforce skills and promote employment opportunities.
Since then, a total of 168,657 Tanzanians have benefited through four main components: apprenticeship training, workplace experience for graduates, recognition of prior learning and skills upgrading for workers.
During the 2025/26 financial year, apprenticeship training is being offered through 46 institutions in 25 regions of mainland Tanzania, covering a range of occupations and involving 5,746 young people.
In Mwanza Region alone, 339 apprentices are enrolled at three institutions: Sengerema Folk Development College, Malya Folk Development College and Pine College.
Several trainees thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the government for funding the programme and providing health insurance, saying the initiative had helped them gain practical skills, improve their ability to work independently and build professional networks.
Some trainees said they had already begun earning income using the skills acquired through the programme.
However, participants also urged the government to strengthen cooperation with employers to expand workplace training opportunities, noting that some institutions and companies still charge fees to provide practical placements.
