The oil and gas courses, to be offered by the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba-UPIK and Uganda Technical College Kichwamba-UTCK, are specialized for the development of the emerging petroleum industry, as part of the Skilling Uganda strategy for transforming skills development for employment enhanced productivity and economic growth.
The Ministry of Education and
Sports has approved 80 new internationally
adapted courses to be offered by 18 training institution across the country.
These include nine courses in the oil and gas field and more than 70 others in
vocational training programmes.
The oil and gas courses, to be offered
by the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba-UPIK and Uganda Technical College
Kichwamba-UTCK, are specialized for the development of the emerging petroleum
industry, as part of the Skilling Uganda strategy for transforming skills
development for employment enhanced productivity and economic growth.
UPIK will offer courses in
petroleum operation, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance and
instrumentation while UTCK is focusing on training artisan and craftsmen in oil
and gas related fields including plumbing and pipe fitting, carpentry and
joinery, welding and metal fabrication.
Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza says that the accomplishment re-affirms the move from issuing
completion certificates to equipping learners with employable skills that
guarantee their preparedness for the world of work.
“Skills development is important
for the growth of key sectors of the economy especially; oil and gas,
construction, tourism, manufacturing and agro-processing. Investment in these
sectors would enable the country to significantly graduate towards the middle
income status,” his statement reads in part.
Abdul Nsubuga, the Skills
Development Projects coordinator says the new courses have been designed with
expert guidance from recognized, international accredited Technical and
Vocational Education and Training- TVET training institutions who provided
professional advice and support during the market survey processes, development
of competences and occupational standards as well as the circular.
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The Vocational Training Courses
will be offered at institutions that are being upgraded into Centres of
Excellence including Bukalasa Agricultural College, Uganda Technical College,
Lira, Uganda Technical College, Elgon and Uganda Technical College, Bushenyi.
The courses include welding and
metal fabrication, automated production and industrial maintenance, Agro-processing,
livestock feed formulation, road construction and building construction focusing
on bridge and culvert construction, topography and land surveying, roofing,
material and soil testing among others.
Although some of these courses
are not entirely new, the Ministry has revised the model of learning to ensure
that the trainees progress from basic knowledge and skills training to more
advanced skills. The new courses largely attract shorter training periods from
days, 2-3 months with the longest not exceeding 2-years.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of
Education has also awarded bursaries to over 1,090 residents from the Albertine
region for training in Oil and Gas related skills. This is intended to support
the development phase of the petroleum industry under the Albertine Region
Sustainable Development Project’s Bursary Scheme.
According to Nsubuga, the
selected beneficiaries had to have been residents in the at least one of the 15
Albertine districts with a minimum of an O’level certificate or craft-1 or 2 or
Uganda vocational qualification frame level 1 or 2.
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Nsubuga further notes that the
trainees will be requested to prepare for training which will commence once the
Ministry of Education and Sports allow educational institutions to resume
operations. He However notes even other
individuals who would wish to train in the designed courses will be welcomed.
