Graduation Ceremony Held on October 25 2019
BY: ENOCK NAPHAZI, CORRESPONDENT
FOCHTA Vocation Training Centre on Friday 25 October hosted its first
ever graduation ceremony where 23 students were awarded Diploma and
certificates on the successful completion of their academic programs.
Ten students graduated with Diploma in Information Technology (IT)
while 13 received certificates in various short courses.
Situated in Luchenza, Thyolo, the Centre is under Friend of Claude HO
in Thyolo Association (FOCHTA) a charitable Non-Governmental
Organization which provides bursaries and vocational training to needy
students in Thyolo district.
Addressing the graduates and guests at the ceremony held at the
college’s campus, Thyolo Standard Bank Manager Patience Khembo
commended FOCHTA management for offering hands-on training and skills
that help the students fit in the industry upon graduation.
“I am also challenging the institution’s management to come up with
other contextualized courses in line with the job market because the
industry is looking for only those that have the essential skills to
make their businesses or companies survive,” said Khembo.
She further encouraged the graduates to work extra hard with focus as
they will be starting their own project whether in the areas of
Tailoring and Design or IT.
“The world is waiting for skilled and challenging young people to
develop in our communities since technical education is the hub for
development of every country,” she said.
FOCHTA Executive Director Lucius Mathiya said the Centre was
established with the express mandate of promoting technical education
and training at advanced level, and will continue to play this role
with total commitment.
Mathiya said plans are underway to introduce other courses that have
ready market available.
He then encouraged the graduates to go to the world and prove that all
the investments were not in vain.
“As you enter the world outside the college, you must be patient,
determined and hardworking in whatever you choose to do,” said
Mathiya.
FOCHTA Vocation Training Centre was accredited by TEVET and is in
partnership with Mzuzu University whereby student who successfully
complete diploma in professional Computing and Information System will
receive credit for the first year of a Bachelor Science (ICT) at Mzuzu
University.
Since its establishment in 2003, FOCHTA has provided scholarship
support to over 2000 needy students from Thyolo district at secondary
and tertiary levels.
The organization was established by Claude Ho from Australia when he
came to Malawi to shoot pictures for Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) in
the tea growing district.