Retooling TVET Trainers to Strengthen Skills Training in Hairdressing and Domestic Work

From 17 Oct to 08 Dec 2025, the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS), in collaboration with Asela Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) College and with technical and financial support from the ILO under the UK FCDO-funded BRMM programme, implemented a short-term capacity building initiative for 12 trainers in hairdressing and domestic work. Conducted in Asela, the programme aimed to address the shortage of qualified instructors in five BRMM-supported TVET centres and to strengthen the quality of vocational training for potential and returned migrants.

Hairdressing and domestic work present significant employment opportunities both within Ethiopia and abroad. While essential equipment and training materials had already been provided to selected TVET centres through the BRMM programme, the limited availability of qualified trainers constrained effective delivery. The five targeted TVETs; Ataye, Walkite, Dedo Sheka, W/Sihan, and Gelemso, faced capacity gaps that hindered optimal use of these resources. Strengthening trainer competence was therefore identified as critical to improving training quality, employability outcomes, and aligning skills development with labour market demand.

The intensive retooling program included 40 days of training for hairdressing and 30 days for domestic work. It concluded with a 92 per cent pass rate in the Certificate of Competency (CoC) examination, demonstrating the effectiveness of the hands-on, practice-oriented training approach and the successful acquisition of technical and instructional skills by participants.

By equipping trainers with updated techniques, practical competencies, and improved teaching methodologies, the initiative has significantly strengthened the instructional capacity of the five targeted TVET institutions. The trained are now better positioned to effectively utilize BRMM supported equipment and training materials, contributing to improved learning outcomes for trainees.

As these trainers return to their respective centres, they will integrate enhanced methodologies and technical standards into their programmes. Continued follow up and monitoring will help ensure that these improvements are sustained and translated into long-term institutional capacity. Ultimately, this strengthened training capacity will better equip potential and returned migrants with the practical skills and job readiness needed to succeed in both national and international labour market.