Abstract:

The youth, partly because they are the future generation are increasingly becoming a center of focus in all nations. The youth are particularly seen as a useful link to the attainment of economic and sustainability development. Unfortunately, the youth face numerous challenges: poverty in the communities which denies them access to quality education, unemployment, high mobility levels, age related differences and limited skills. Amidst an ever increasing interest to find a job and also work to meet ones needs, the big question is, “how can the youth be supported” to continuously acquire skills needed on the job market and yet work to contribute to economic and sustainable development in their countries?

The education system in Uganda now promotes vocational training as another path for those not able to continue with formal education. A context and user analysis was conducted among youth workers in technical institutions in Uganda. The study population comprised of staff and administrators of distance learning programmes at Makerere University, officials of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, youth trainers, trainees and mobilisers at different levels. Findings revealed that: most of the girls and boys in vocational training have to work for various reasons; that promotion of and appropriate uptake of educational technology to enhance training is critical as a strategy to enable the youth acquire skills, find and also maintain jobs. In this paper I will share the ICT experiences and challenges of the youth undertaking vocational and technical training.

Keywords:

Vocational Training, Youth, Educational Technology, sustainable Development, Distance Education, Uganda, Gender.