More than 10,000 young artisans in Mtumba Constituency who acquired their skills outside the formal education system are expected to receive nationally recognised vocational certificates by 2030 under the government's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme implemented by the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA).
The target was announced by Mtumba MP Anthony Mavunde during a ceremony in Dodoma on July 16, where 100 artisans were awarded VETA certificates after successfully completing skills assessments.
The programme is designed to recognise competencies gained through workplace experience and informal learning, enabling skilled workers without formal vocational qualifications to obtain nationally recognised certification.
Mr Mavunde said the initiative would help improve employment prospects and expand access to economic opportunities for young people who have long worked in trades without formal credentials.
"Many young people possess practical skills but have never had the opportunity to attend vocational training institutions. Recognising those skills through VETA certification gives them a pathway to better employment, self-employment and business growth," he said.
He said the constituency plans to identify and facilitate the certification of every eligible artisan by 2030, while creating a database of certified youth to connect them with available economic opportunities.
According to Mr Mavunde, the database will also support certified artisans in accessing government procurement opportunities, including those reserved for special groups under public procurement regulations.
VETA Director General Anthony Kasore said the Recognition of Prior Learning programme provides a formal route for experienced artisans to have their skills assessed and certified without undergoing conventional classroom training.
He said VETA assessors visit artisans at their workplaces, evaluate their practical competencies against national occupational standards and award certificates to candidates who meet the required benchmarks.
"The programme recognises skills acquired through experience and enables artisans to compete in the labour market on the basis of nationally recognised qualifications," Mr Kasore said.
He urged beneficiaries to use their qualifications to improve productivity and livelihoods, while encouraging them to form groups to increase their chances of securing contracts, financing and other business opportunities.
The Recognition of Prior Learning programme forms part of government efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, improve workforce competitiveness and enhance employment opportunities by formally recognising skills acquired outside the traditional education system.
