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UNESCO BEAR II Project supports National Skills competition 2022 in Uganda

Officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, WorldSkills Uganda and Development Partners pose for a photo at the launch of the National Skills Competition © Ritah Elit

3 March 2022

Last update:20 April 2023

The second edition of the National Skills Competition in Uganda came to a climax with a national competition held on 3 and 4 February 2022 at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute in Kampala. Organized by the World Skills Competition Uganda with support from the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR II) Project in Uganda, the competition was organized to show-case and unleash the potential of young people in creativity, innovation in addition to enhancing their skills in different trades and discipline in accordance with the global occupational standards. Categorized into different trades with students competing in Agro processing, Agro-machinery fabrication, automobile mechanics, electrical installations, clinical medicine, laboratory technology, among other areas., the competition attracted over 92 young people from 55 TVET institutions of which 55 where male and 37 females.

A section of student who emerged winners from their respective categories pose for a photo with their accolades. © MoES

While officiating the at the event, the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, the Rt. Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama commended competitors from the tertiary institutions for overcoming the stiff competition at regional levels to make it for the 2022 national competitions. Noting the success of the event, she looked forward to the winning team putting up a more formidable performance at the Africa continental event soon to be held in Namibia.

Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, the Minister of State for Higher Education, officially opened the 2-day Skills competition that saw over fifteen winners from the different categories awarded with certificates and medals. He expressed his satisfaction in seeing young people talk and engage in creative and innovative approaches with a lot passion during the competition.

We should put more money into innovation and technical skills so as the youth can make a difference for this country.

Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, Minister of State for Higher Education, Uganda

While delivering remarks on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports, the Commissioner of Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Safina Musene, commended UNESCO and the Government of Uganda for giving priority to the skills training competition program.

This approach has effectively and deliberately supported hundreds of young students to identify and gain exposer that will help them appreciate and interest themselves in learning new hands-on skills as opposed to relying on government and private sector for white collar jobs which aren’t readily available

Dr. Safina Musene, Commissioner of Health Education and Training, Ministry of Education

She congratulated the participating institutions noting the immense exposure to knowledge and skills gained during the competition. She pledged support of the Ministry of Education supporting the winning team to Namibia to represent the country at the continental level on condition that they would excel at the continental competition.

The competition will act as a precursor for TVET competitors and winners from Uganda to participate in the African Regional competition scheduled for 28th March to 4th April 2022, in Namibia. The WorldSkills International Competition planned from 12 to 17 October 2022 in Shanghai – China will follow this up.