History and the economy matters for artisanal skills planning

This policy brief will focus on the first aspect (the underpinning economic and political history), considering particularly two findings with implications for policy: Research finding 1: A largely negative historical discourse on technical, vocational education and training. Policy recommendation: Efforts towards a future artisan system must acknowledge and take into consideration the complexity and power of historical processes and associated discourses underlying systems of vocational education and training in the country over time. Research finding 2: A shifting macro-economic structure (sectoral, sub-sectoral, skills and occupational demand shifts) Policy recommendation: Current policies for artisan development need to take into account the changing structure of the economy. No policy aimed at training artisans should be formulated and implemented without a consideration of which sectors are growing and which could be encouraged to grow in a globally competitive environment, to generate formal, informal and self-employment opportunities for future artisans.