Lira, Uganda | Sharonica Garment Centre and Technical Services has called for a shift in community attitudes towards vocational education, warning that parental reluctance and negative perceptions are undermining skills development among young people.
This appeal came during the institution’s fifth graduation ceremony held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Lira City, where 106 students completed training in tailoring and hairdressing.
Addressing the ceremony, Tonny Ogwang, a director at Sharonica, said some parents were failing to fully support their children after enrolment, limiting their exposure to practical training opportunities.
He cautioned against learners being left idle or restricted to informal practice at home after training, saying such habits deny them essential industrial experience.
Ogwang stressed that employers increasingly require practical experience, urging parents to allow graduates to progress into workshops for hands-on exposure.
He further noted that the institution integrates life skills training, including poultry and goat rearing, to help students diversify income sources beyond tailoring.
Ogwang also urged communities to stop undermining vocational education, saying tailoring should be viewed as a viable business path capable of transforming livelihoods.
Aroko Robina, the Principal of Sharonica Garment Centre and Technical Services, said the institution operates a structured training system comprising Modular 1 and 2, Level 1 to Level 3 programmes, catering for learners of different academic backgrounds.
She confirmed that the institution is accredited by the Uganda Business and Technical Assessment Board (UBTAB) and has transitioned from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) system.
Robina announced that assessments will now be conducted quarterly in June, September, and December, replacing the previous examination cycle.
She, however, acknowledged challenges in the transition, including communication gaps with parents, delays in transcripts, and adjustment difficulties linked to the new system.
Ekit Keren Sharon, the founder and director of Sharonica, shared her journey from a small-scale tailor to leading a growing vocational institution.
She said her progress was built on consistency, trust, and community demand for tailoring services, which gradually evolved into structured training.
Sharon said vocational skills had transformed many families and challenged the perception that technical education is a fallback option.
Founded in 2013, Sharonica has trained more than 1,000 students in tailoring and hairdressing. The institution has also acquired land in Apii, Kole District, where it plans to establish a larger vocational training centre.
She said the institution is committed to empowering both girls and boys, noting that 10 boys are currently enrolled under its training programmes.
Ebil Carlos, a Level 2 tailoring student, said he initially aspired to become a medical doctor but shifted to vocational training due to circumstances.
He said he had since embraced tailoring, gaining not only technical skills but also business and customer management competencies.
Carlos said tailoring offers viable opportunities for entrepreneurship, noting that many successful garment business owners began as trainees.
Apio Racheal, a Level 1 graduate, said the training had equipped her with skills to begin independent work, adding that practical competence had boosted her confidence.
She, however, expressed concern that stigma against vocational education continues to discourage some graduates from fully practising their skills.
Sharonica’s leadership said the institution remains committed to promoting vocational education as a driver of youth employment and household income generation.
Since its establishment, the centre has positioned itself as part of a broader national push towards skills-based training aimed at reducing unemployment and enhancing self-reliance among young people.
