Pakistan TVET REFORM Support Programme Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Reform support Programme
Nov 19, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar have urged the managements of institutes imparting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to play their active role in creating awareness about the importance of being skilled.
A one-day seminar entitled-Promotion of TVET-organized by Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) in collaboration with TVET Reform Support Programme, being funded by the European Union, the Kingdom of Netherlands and Federal Republic of Germany, was held here on Tuesday. First ever of its kind, the seminar was attended by executives, managers and faculty members of PBTE-affiliated TVET institutes working in the private sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdul Hameed Dean of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Management & Technology, Lahore said that marginalized communities including working women particularly in rural settings, persons with disabilities, people with extreme poverty, minority groups, bonded labour and students and graduates of religious seminaries should be given access to TVET.
He said that apart from using powerful tool of print and electronic media, Masajids and Madrassahs must also be taken on board for the promotion of TVET. He said management of TVET institutes from private sector has had to concentrate on exploring local resources for generation of maximum funds to run their institutes successfully. The academic staff must be trained to deliver lectures and impart practical training in respective regional languages. There should be minimum dependence on government funding if we were serious for promotion of TVET in the province, he said.
Dr. Faisal Qadeer, Assistant Professor, National College of Business Administration & Economics, Lahore while speaking to seminar said Pakistan was at 4th position and Bangladesh at 6th among the top 10 recipients of migrant remittances in 2003. He recalled Pakistan’s remittances in 2003 were US$ 12 billion, which now stands at the same levels. “Had there been a TVET promotion in the real sense in Pakistan, then today we could have at least received $24 billion,” he opined.
Mr. Shahrukh Nusrat, Director General (P & D) NAVTTC, Islamabad, who was the Chief Guest of seminar, said that today we had 64million youth between the ages of 15 to 35 which was a blessing. This youth was actually basic engine of economic development provided they were given the required skills; he said and added that TVET has to be promoted for imparting skills to the youth.
Qazi Farid Ahmad from TVET Reform Support Programme also gave presentation about key challenges attached to the TVET sector and its ongoing reform.
Chairman PBTE, Dr. Muhammad Shafique while welcoming all the participants of the seminar, said that the basic purpose of holding of this session was to create awareness about TVET promotion and its significance among the TVET service providers. He said that 2nd Seminar would be held on 27th of this month in Multan while the 3rd will be held on December 03 in Lahore. Holding of these seminars highlight the PBTE management ’s efforts for the promotion of TEVT in Pakistan.
