Swedish company Volvo Group has started an apprenticeship training programme in Zambia for service technicians and workshop mechanics
Volvo, along with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the United National Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), will train 140 aspirants every year, stated the company.
The programme was initiated in January 2015. Over a period spanning three-and-a-half years, more than 420 students will be trained, with the objective that at least 75 per cent of them can procure jobs as mechanics or service technicians, said Volvo officials.
The need for practical vocational expertise is high in Zambia, as existing training programmes fail to meet the current standards set by industries at large. This has led to companies sourcing labour from other nations, they added. Specifically, in Zambia, the problem persists with hiring adequate labour for the mining industry.
Volvo Group senior vice-president for CSR managament Malin Ripa said, “Trained mechanics will have the opportunity to work in countries with high unemployment, while Volvo will gain access to the trained personnel that we need in order to expand in Africa. By training local manpower, we will contribute to sustainable growth in the countries in which the Volvo Group operates.”
The training will be conducted at Northern Technical College in the city of Ndola. The programme has been adapted and planned to meet the needs of the industry, containing practical as well as theoretical courses such as mechanics, service and maintenance of vehicles. In addition, English training will also be included in the programme.
