Vocational education and training (vet) development in present day southern Sudan against the background of the 1983-2005 civil war: A case of Juba county

Abstract

The study looked into how the war affected Vocational Education and Training (VET) and its development at the Multi-Service Training Centre in Juba County since its formation in 1973 . This was undertaken with an objective of assessing its needs today, in 2010. VI The purpose of the study was to examine how vocational education was affected by the civil war of 1983-2005. I carried out a literature search to identify gaps and similarities in the post conflict environment, and examining war situations that were comparable to that of Southern Sudan. Data were collected using both questionnaires and interview guides from a range of respondents including MTC staff, students and partners to vocational education in the region. The data were qualitatively analyzed. It has been discovered that besides the infrastructural damage caused to this Vocational Education and Training institution in Juba County by the civil war, the aftermath of the war has led to vocational education being neglected. There has been a lack of will from the government despite their knowledge of the value of such education, not denying the fact that, huge sums of money are needed to restart VET. The study found out that there are a lot of gaps in VET progress such as lack of policy, lack of a national curriculum and an existing central VET system with poorly motivated instructors. VET is run by NGOs while the major role of the government at the moment is to coordinate rather than manage activities in this field of education. It is recommended that government invests more into VET, promulgates VET policy and inaugurates a national curriculum and seeks ways to motivate the instructors so as to improve the status and esteem of VET in Southern Sudan.