Executive summury
A favourable context for Technical and Professional Training Development
In 2001, Mozambique established its first National Poverty Reduction Plan (pursuant to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals), entitled the Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA). Updated in 2005, this plan aims at enhancing student skills via a development program designed to equip youth with sustainable existence capabilities. The Professional Training Integrated Reform Program, adopted in
October 2005, includes plans for a top-to-bottom overhaul of the education system: a consistent education policy with a decentralized management system; school accreditation system; a market-demand program based on skill-acquisition recognition; an acquisition recognition system; problem-solving training aimed at developing an entrepreneurial culture, etc. To this end, the Ministry of Education and Culture must train teachers and managers who will supervise the reform’s implementation in the country’s 41 technical institutions, under the responsibility of our partner, the National Technical Training Branch We have been working with the National Technical Training Branch since 2004 on School, Society, Employment, a PPCC project that got underway in March 2005. We have joined efforts with four Maputo region business schools to develop a business administration and management skill-based program, which eventually will be integrated to the Professional Training Integrated Reform Program.
Mozambique’s northern, remote provinces
To achieve this reform, Mozambique requires funding and international community know-how. For this reason, in collaboration with the National Technical Training Branch, we developed the Training, Change, Efficiency program for training directors in charge of implementing the Professional Training Integrated Reform Program in six institutions and three FTP provincial services in the provinces of Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. This northern region, with a population of nearly 7 million, is known for its considerable socio-economic disparity with rest of the country, in terms of infrastructures, public services, health and education. Moreover, access remains difficult to this less privileged northern region. Roughly 50% of CIDA’s annual Mozambique budget (approximately 44 million) is spent on education; its program framework targets support for poverty reduction initiatives in the northern provinces, to which our project will contribute.
Objective, output results, effects, impact
The project objective is to improve the administrative and interpersonal skills of managers in these three provinces. The expected output results are as follows: 22 managers, 18% of whom are women, will be equipped to implement changes brought about by the Professional Training Integrated Reform Program, mobilize work teams to this end, effectively manage financial and material resources placed at their disposal, produce the necessary policy and management tools to accomplish their mission and to establish discussion networks with their community. The project also proposes academic success development plans to offset school drop-out. Mozambique has an average female illiteracy rate of 68%, with the northern provinces posting rates as high as 80%. FTP enrolment in this region counts only 25% women (almost exclusively in the business sector). A Regional Communication Plan encouraging women to enroll in FTP and learn traditional male trades will be established. This project has little impact on the environment. Schools could integrate environmental conservation activities into educational curriculums using the Environmental Training Guide, produced by Garneau-International as part of CIDA’s Award of Excellence recipient project. A Portuguese version of this Guide is now available. The desired impact of the project is in line with Professional Training Integrated Reform Program objectives: the reform was implemented, schools opened their doors to the community, they are capable of rallying the necessary development resources, young people successfully complete study programs and enjoy access to jobs related to their training program.