The establishment of NACTE in 1998 marked the beginning of systematic and orderly regulation of technical education and training inTanzania.  The Operationalisation of NACTE had three distinct phases, namely: Establishment of the Secretariat; Development of various operational procedures, guidelines and regulations; and implementation of activities leading to the realization of set objectives.  The Council has now embarked on the third phase. Stakeholders and the general public are beginning to feel the existence of NACTE as it endeavours to create order to the provision of technical education and training in the country.

Technical education and training is an essential element of capacity and competence building in developing countries likeTanzania. It is for this reason thatTanzaniahas, since independence in 1961, been emphasizing on the development and expansion of technical education and training. Technical education and training has been introduced at various levels of our education system to meet human resources requirements in the various sectors of the economy. With the ongoing globalization forces and the increased regional as well as global trade competitions, it is important for our country to establish and sustain a high quality and innovative technical education and training system.

The Council is cognizant of the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 that envisages Tanzania to be a nation with high quality livelihood; a nation with high quality education at all levels; a nation, which produces the quantity and quality of well educated people sufficiently equipped with requisite competencies to solve the society’s problems, manage the challenges of development and attain a strong and competitive economy. The Council is also cognizant of the Tanzania Poverty Reduction Strategy that advocates, amongst other things, the improvement of human capabilities in order to reduce poverty amongst Tanzanians.

The Council understands well the strategic importance of technical education and training to the social and economic development of our country since it provides the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes for the exploitation of the potentials of a country through the application of science and technology. Technical education and training also avails the country with a critical mass of technicians and technologists required for managing and spearheading the development activities in various sectors of business and industry.  Technical education and training may effectively contribute to the reduction of poverty and creation of wealth  if it is so regulated and coordinated that it can respond flexibly to the rapidly changing needs of the labour market, technologies and globalization forces.

In recognition of the above strategic requirements, the Council has since its establishment been directing its efforts towards establishing and sustaining a technical education and training system that is capable of producing the critical mass of skilled workforce required forTanzaniato make significant impact in the social and economic development of our country. 

The Council, being responsible for overseeing the provision of quality technical education and training, is challenged and expected to contribute significantly to the realization of the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 as well as the Poverty Reduction Strategy by establishing and putting in place a technical education and training system that is flexible and responsive to labour market demands, global trends and technological innovations.  Clearly these tasks are very challenging and require that NACTE is provided with sufficient resources, especially during this initial stage of implementation of its activities.

Realization of the key objectives for which NACTE was established has begun with registration and accreditation processes, the development of demands driven NTA curricula, administration of technical examinations, registration of technical teachers and establishment of databases in respect of technical teachers as well as institutions.  I wish to commend members of the Council, the Subject Boards and the Secretariat for their high commitment and dedication.  The Council remains committed to ensure that all objectives for which it was established are successfully realized within the foreseeable future.

Eng. Steven Mlote

Ag. CHAIRMAN