Artisanal Technical skills have been viewed for a long time as low-end jobs something that is very evident in salary schemes of different institutions operating in Africa. Though in fact technical skills are the ones that create the comfort that we enjoy in our everyday life. Every tool, machine or object we use to make life easier and more enjoyable, is a product of a skilled person.
The challenge
When it comes to technology, Africa remains dependent because most of its technical workforce lack the knowledge to develop the needed technologies from the scratch and bring together the diverse knowledge to create required machinery, and not only know how to repair fault machinery.
This perception has also affected Technical Skills were by many youths seek for high levels certification of technical training, aiming mostly to increase their income and gaining high paying supervisory jobs rather than using the attained knowledge to come up with technological solutions African societies need.
The solution
Currently electronics play a great part in the operation of many machineries creating a challenge to the technical skills that most youth are required to have. In the times of manually controlled machinery, the level of complexity of developing technology was not that much great.
But with the state that we are in by now, with AI taking the toll, Africa has a task of making sure that it is able to create the complex electronics components that are required to develop different technologies. Collaboration of skills should be encouraged among African skill rather than every skilled person working selfishly.
The role of Technical Training
Technical training institutes should also base in instilling into the youth the basic skills and knowledge they need to understand why and how the technologies work. Technical training, should carefully be aimed at creating skilled youth, who with proper policies put in place, will be able to come up with technologies that will help assist Africa elevate itself from the challenges that hold it back from reaching its full potential.
Thus, being said, technical skills have a very great role in developing Africa and enhancing its production in different sectors.
