The Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) was on Friday 21st January 2022 conferred with the status of Centre of Excellence in TVET by the Technical Education Vocation and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) under the Ministry of Technology and Science. This was done during the National Launch for Establishing Centres of Excellence in TVET and Awarding Ceremony of Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre officiated by the Minister of Technology and Science Hon. Felix Mutati MP in Namalundu, Chikankata.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Mutati stressed that the conferring of KGRTC as a Centre of Excellence is the beginning of a new strategy for TVET which will lift the standards in all learning institutions in Zambia to deliver quality, competent skills to the people of Zambia. The handover of the certificate also marked the launch of Centres of Excellence under TEVETA.
Speaking at the launch, the ZESCO Director - Human Capital and Development, Mr. Maxwell Saya , who was speaking on behalf of the ZESCO Managing Director Eng. Victor Benjamin Mapani expressed gratitude for the recognition of KGRTC by TEVETA as a Centre of Excellence in the provision of TVET related training. The recognition of KGRTC as a Centre of excellence is a key milestone in the development and growth of the Centre which was established in 1989.
The TVET Centres of Excellence is an initiative by the Ministry of Technology and Science in its quest to promote the delivery of quality training to help Training Institutions meet the needs of the industry.
To achieve this recognition, KGRTC went through a series of audits by TEVETA in collaboration with other key stakeholders. TEVETA Director-General, Eng. Cleophas Takaiza stated that for a country to be competitive as an investment destination and become productive, there is a need for quality education and skills development.
Speaking at the same event, Chikankata Constituency Member of Parliament Hon. Jaqueline Sabao MP was delighted with the recognition of KGRTC as a Centre of Excellence. She implored KGRTC Management to continue with the provision of quality training to Zambia, the SADC region and beyond.
Also present at the event was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science Dr Brilliant Habenzu, Director - VET at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Alex Muzano Simumba, Chikankata Council Chairperson, Mr Conard Ngoma, Chikankata District Commissioner, Mr Timothy Chipolyonga, various heads of training institutions, cooperating partners like the European Union, GIZ, Engineering Institution of Zambia and others.
The Recognition of KGRTC as a Centre of Excellence sets KGRTC as a model TVET institution in the country.