TVET and the Fisherman

In many villages, a fisherman’s story explains TVET better than any policy document. 

 

It echoes an old saying: giving a man a fish solves hunger for a day, while teaching him to fish gives him a livelihood. But the story does not end there. When fishermen are organized, supported, and connected to markets, something bigger happens —— an industry is formed.

This is where TVET plays its true role. TVET is not only about teaching individuals how to do a job. It is about developing skills that fit real work, real tools, and real industries. A trained fisherman does not only learn how to catch fish. He learns boat maintenance, food handling, storage, safety, and quality standards. Over time, some progress into roles as processors, technicians, supervisors, or small business owners.

When these skills are aligned—through cooperatives, supply chains, and proper infrastructure—fishing moves beyond daily survival. It becomes a stable source of income, jobs, and community growth. This is how livelihoods scale into industries.

From a TVET perspective, nation-building does not come from handouts alone. It comes from organising skills into productive systems. Just as fishermen grow stronger together, a country grows when its workforce is trained, connected, and supported to build industries that last.