The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) says reforms in Tanzania’s education sector are beginning to yield results, with vocational students increasingly developing innovations that enable them to create businesses and employment opportunities.
NACTVET Governing Board Chairperson Bernadetta Ndunguru said vocational and technical education is changing the mindset of young people by equipping them with practical skills, innovation capacity, and entrepreneurship knowledge needed to compete in the economy.
Speaking during her visit to the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba), Ms Ndunguru said the exhibition has provided clear evidence that vocational education is producing graduates capable of creating solutions to real-life challenges while generating income from their innovations.
She pointed to several projects showcased by Form Three vocational students, describing them as a reflection of the growing impact of skills-based education in Tanzania.
Among the innovations she highlighted was a low-cost housing model developed by a student from Bwiru Vocational Secondary School in Mwanza.
The model demonstrates different stages of construction and provides estimated costs, helping people understand affordable housing options. The student has already started earning income from the innovation.
She also cited an ICT student who developed a software application designed to help small business owners track their income, expenses, and profits. The application has moved beyond the classroom and is now being sold commercially.
“These innovations show that vocational education is not only preparing students for employment but also giving them the ability to identify opportunities, develop solutions, and create jobs,” Ms Ndunguru said.
She added that institutions supervised by NACTVET, including Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), National Institute of Transport (NIT), and Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), continue to strengthen training programmes aimed at producing skilled entrepreneurs and industrial innovators.
During her visit to the DIT pavilion, Ms Ndunguru witnessed an innovation that converts used plastic bottles into spare parts for three-wheeled motorcycles, commonly known as bajajs. She said the technology demonstrates Tanzania’s potential to develop local solutions and reduce reliance on imported products.
She said such innovations support the goals of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, which prioritises an industrial economy driven by skills development, creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Ms Ndunguru assured that NACTVET will continue strengthening oversight of technical and vocational training institutions to ensure graduates acquire skills that enable them to become employers, innovators, and contributors to industrial growth.
She said the transformation of vocational education is expected to play a key role in expanding employment opportunities and supporting Tanzania’s economic development agenda.
