Strenghtening Professional Development of BTVET Instructors

VVOB intends to start up operations in business, technical and vocational education and training (BTVET) in 2018, in order to increase its presence in JSF countries. VVOB’s support is aligned with Ugandan policy priorities captured in “Skilling Uganda: BTVET Strategy 2012/13-2021/22” and builds on two running BTC education projects.1 The main stake – defined in consultation with BTC – is to strengthen the professional development of Uganda’s BTVET instructors, many of whom lack the necessary trade-related technical and instructional pedagogic skills to provide quality BTVET. To address the issue, VVOB plans three lines of action: 1) enhancing the relevance and quality of initial BTVET instructor training by increasing alignment with the realities of BTVET schools – esp. effectively teaching the (existing) BTVET curriculum; 2) developing effective and affordable early career support for experienced practitioners entering the BTVET instructor profession from the world of work; and 3) developing effective and affordable modalities for BTVET instructors’ continuous professional development. As the BTVET sub-sector is undergoing systemic reform, a gradual start-up is envisaged – as advised by BTC and the Belgian Embassy – and final decisions on the partnership structure will be made in 2017.