The first and second National Socio–Economic Development Plans (SEDP) 1996-2005 made clear that a strategy to build a skilled workforce must be an engine for economic growth. Such a strategy would need the input of many Government Ministries to ensure that training provision was coordinated and that those in rural and urban communities had full knowledge of the variety of training opportunities available to them each year from all sources. The Rectangular Strategy outlined in The National Strategic Development Plan, 2006-2010 place emphasis on the need for an expanded skills base both the reduce poverty and to create the platform  for an expanded industrial base. 

Sub Decree Establishment of NTB 14,10,2005

The first National TVET Development Plan prepared by the Directorate General for Technical Vocational Education and Training (DGTVET) was tabled with the NTB for the year 2005. Two subsequent updates of this plan have now been approved, affirming the 14 Policies of the original plan and introducing new implementation strategies each year based on the growing capacity of DGTVET.  

Current Membership Listing

By engaging labour and enterprise with Government and private training providers, as members of the Board, a stabile mechanism was created for building the long term plan required to match workforce skills with the needs of the employment community. But more than this, by giving the NTB responsibility for developing Provincial Training Boards, a strong mechanism for decentralized planning of skills training was created. The plan would recognize the varied needs of different regions and the vastly different rates and styles of growth from Province to Province.

With its partnership based membership, the NTB can help integrate workplace and institutional training solutions as the opportunities emerge. It can make sure that national competency standards are developed within a Nation TVET Qualifications Framework (NTQF). The Board can approve and endorse pilot projects to test out innovative and cost effective ways of providing training and can support the development of training in new technologies as the economy moves ahead. It can look beyond schools and colleges to view the workplace itself as a provider of learning opportunities.

The NTB gives direction to the Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DGTVET) in the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, in policy and the provision of skills development through the Directorates 40 institutions. It creates an environment which supports training by private sector providers to ensure the balanced growth of national TVET system. Soon it will also be in a position to accredit trainers so that learners in the community can be assured of minimum standards of training.

The NTB has a major commitment to expanding accessibility to skills development. Balancing the needs for growth in manufacturing in the national capital region with the developing needs of family based work in many provinces and tourism in others, requires careful consideration of many inputs. This will soon be possible with the new Labour Market Information System (LMIS) providing much more detailed planning data on a provincial basis,.