Mrs. Georgina Chama, Principal of Lusaka Vocational Technical College (LVTC) in Zambia
As African nations seek to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and industrial demand, the institutionalization of workplace-based learning has emerged as a cornerstone for sustainable youth employment.
At the International TVET Conference held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi from Sept. 9 to 11, educators, policymakers, and industry experts converged to chart a actionable roadmap for technical and vocational education and training across the continent.
Speaking on a high-level panel focused on real-world experiences, challenges, and solutions for workplace-based learning, Mrs. Georgina Chama, Principal of Lusaka Vocational Technical College (LVTC) in Zambia, shared practical insights into how institutional leadership can build resilient bridgeheads between training institutes and active industrial zones.
Chama emphasized that while dual training and workplace placement models offer tremendous value to students, moving from pilot programs to full institutionalization requires clear policy backing, structured incentives for private firms, and flexible academic calendars.
”Workplace-based learning cannot remain an ad-hoc arrangement or a secondary add-on to technical education,” Chama noted during the panel discussion. “It must be embedded into the core structure of our institutional curricula. For TVET institutions to produce truly work-ready graduates, training must alternate seamlessly between the lecture hall and the production line.”
Reflecting on operational realities in Zambia, Chama addressed key bottlenecks that vocational institutions face, including securing consistent industrial attachments for large cohorts, aligning semester schedules with private sector production cycles, and ensuring standardized mentorship on shop floors.
She highlighted that strengthening workplace training requires shifting industry perception from seeing interns as casual labor to recognizing them as an essential talent pipeline.
”What works is establishing formal, long-term partnerships with local industries where training objectives are co-designed,” Chama stated. “When private companies have a direct stake in defining competency requirements, they are far more willing to open their doors, share modern machinery, and invest in workplace mentors.”
Chama also advocated for standardized monitoring mechanisms, noting that institutional tutors must work alongside company supervisors to continuously assess practical progress. She urged African governments and TVET regulatory bodies to offer policy frameworks—such as tax rebates or training subsidies—to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to host TVET trainees.
The panel discussion formed part of the three-day international conference brought together over 500 regional and international delegates under the banner of advancing industry-TVET collaboration for global competitiveness.
Delegates praised Zambia’s practical approach to technical education reform, agreeing that institutional leaders like Chama play a pivotal role in transforming vocational centers into dynamic hubs for regional industrialization and economic growth.