Stakeholders involved in skills development in Tanzania have said that strengthening the apprenticeship system in line with the International Labour Organization (ILO) international apprenticeship training guidelines will help increase employment opportunities for young people and produce graduates with skills that match the real demands of the labor market.
The remarks were made during a workshop organized by the ILO through the Global Skills Programme with financial support from Norway. The meeting, held in Morogoro Region, focused on validating the Apprenticeship Road Map implementation plan and brought together stakeholders from educational institutions, vocational colleges, government agencies, and the private sector to discuss ways of improving practical skills training in the country.
Speaking to journalists, Albert Okal, Skills Development Specialist from the ILO Pretoria Office, said the workshop aimed to assess how the apprenticeship system is currently being implemented in Tanzania and how well it aligns with the international guidelines established by the ILO and its member states.
Okal noted that curriculum analysis conducted by experts revealed that the apprenticeship system in Tanzania has not yet grown as expected.
“Some of the information we are receiving shows that apprenticeship training has not yet become a major component of vocational education and training as seen in other technical education programmes. We therefore expect this report to help identify areas that require improvement,” said Okal.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Zanzibar Vocational Training Authority, Dr. Bakari Ali Silima, said the apprenticeship system is an important tool for ensuring graduates secure employment by preparing them according to labor market and industrial needs.
“Apprenticeship training is highly needed in our educational institutions, especially universities. If we provide such training, we will guarantee employment opportunities for graduates, and that is exactly what is needed. The issue of multi-skilling is also something that should be given priority,” he said.
Meanwhile, Daudi Simbeye, Assistant Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said the government is committed to ensuring the system becomes an important pathway for helping youth secure jobs and self-employment opportunities.
“The Minister for Education, Science and Technology launched a recognition programme known as SAMIA, which helps identify young people who acquired skills in the informal sector.
It ensures they receive additional training in areas where they need improvement before being awarded certificates that enable them to be recognized and either employed or self-employed in various sectors,” Simbeye explained.
Dennis Assey, Community Development Officer from the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, said that through the workshop, the ILO presented a trace study report examining the actual state of the apprenticeship system in Tanzania in line with Recommendation 208.
Assey said the government will continue collaborating with the ILO to strengthen the system through the National Skills Development Programme, under which more than 5,000 young people are currently undergoing apprenticeship training in 46 colleges across the country.
“In the 2025/26 financial year, the Prime Minister’s Office for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations has continued implementing the national skills development programme.
One of its major components is apprenticeship training, and we have supported more than 5,000 youth who are currently studying in 46 colleges nationwide. These training opportunities are announced every year, so young people are encouraged to closely follow and seize these opportunities,” he said.
