Rwetembura, Burchard Mpaka2019-08-192020-01-072019-08-192020-01-071992Rwetembura, B. M. (1992). Utilisation of vocational skills acquired from Folk Development Colleges and post-primary technical centres. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/search.aspx?formtype=advanced)http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3230Available in print formThe study is intended to contribute to the understanding of the factors influencing the utilisation of skills acquired from the Folk Development Colleges (FDC) and Post-Primary Technical Centres (PPTC) and to assess the problems encountered by the graduates from these colleges in the rural areas. In studying the utilisation of skills by the graduates from FDCs and PPTCs a multi-disciplinary approach to the problem was necessary. To facilitate such a multi-disciplinary approach, this study has applied the knowledge of political economy. Chapter one contains the central argument that some of the specific problems in the production and servicing units are due to poor conceptualisation of the training policy. It is argued that once this policy problem has been sorted out the problems in the production units will be reduced. An example from the third world country of the Republic of Vietnam is given to support this argument. The major objectives of the study were to investigate how the rural artisans from FDCs, PPTCs do in fact utilise their vocational skills and to examine some specific problems in the production and servicing units. Chapter two deals with the socio-economic factors that influence the development of Tanzania and how they affect the utilisation of vocational skills in rural areas. Experience from Vietnam is provided to elaborate further on the Tanzania situation. This will demonstrate the importance of the study in showing factors impairing vocational-skills utilisation elsewhere. This helps to show the linkages between socio-economic conditions and the extent of skill utilisation. The entire study has been directed at skills taught and how they relate to the future jobs of the graduates. Chapter three deals with research methodology, which includes location of the study area and the methods that have been used to collect data. Then data have been interpreted by the use of tables. This section also analyses the physical and socio-economic factors which help to explain the ecological background of the villages. For example, the variation in climate, vegetation and soils gives the region a variety of land uses and population settlement patterns combined with the varied skills employed in exploiting the natural resources. In this context a brief account of the dominant economic activities have been presented. These economic activities have in turn clarified the work relationship between artisans and the people in the area. Finally chapter four is divided into two sections according to the hypotheses under study. Firstly the data have shown that the graduates have failed to make a living from the utilisation of their skills only. The technical activities of the graduates have been supplemented by non-technical activities to earn a better living. Secondly, the data have shown that the financial position of the people in these areas is extremely low and hence their purchasing power is also low. Under such circumstances the products made by these graduates are not bought. Finally, this trend has affected the whole question of utilisation of skills by the graduates. The study has also shown some alternative activities which have proved to earn better returns. Thus the combination of the technical activities and non technical ones shows most promise for the future.enFolk Development CollegesVocational qualificationsTanzaniaThesis