Sunday, October 4th, 2020-Staff Reporter:
Ms. Iris Cordelia Rotzoll, Head of Programme, TVET Sector Support Programme, GIZ Pakistan, visited ZABTech Gharo. During her visit she interacted with students who are being trained in Workplace-based training project, supported by TVET Sector Support Programme which is funded by European Union, Government of Germany and Government of Norway.
Under TVET Sector Support Programme, ZABTech is implementing demand-driven competency-based training (CBT) Programme in 07 cities of Sindh. At Gharo, currently 60 trainees are being trained in Freight Forwarding & Shipping Assistant Level III, Welder & Fabricator Level II, Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning Level IV.
Ms. Iris Cordelia Rotzoll, Head of Programme, TVET Sector Support Programme, GIZ Pakistan, met with trainees and asked them about ongoing trainings, their expectations and future job possibilities. One of the five female trainees of Freight Forwarding & Shipping Assistant Level III shared that “earlier to this programme, females in Thatta were only limited to traditional career choices like beautician or dress making, for the first time this qualification is being offered Upon graduation, I would like to work at Bin Qasim Port”.
Ms. Rotzoll also visited the second building of ZABTech, the construction of which will be completed in next two months. Ms. Waheeda, Mahesar, Director ZABTech shared that, the second block has 09 technical and vocational labs, 09 class rooms, 03 computer labs and 1 Multipurpose hall. She further said that, “ZABTech has limited resources, it seeks technical, financial and moral support from development partners for the utilization of the new building”.
Sharing future plans, Ms. Waheeda Mahesar, said that “The plan is to carter the needs of growing industry of Sindh & Balochistan, by providing them skilled labor. It also includes setting up a hostel for female trainees who otherwise can’t attend classes on regular basis”.
Discussing industrial scenario and TVET in Sindh, Secretary Board of Trustees, shared that our job is much demanding. Sindh is pre-dominantly agrarian society and to transform an individual coming from that society to Industry relevant skills both TVET institutes and industry have to take more efforts. He further added; SZABIST has allocated 200 acres of land to ZABTech, with the aim to equip youth of this side of the region with skills required to transform”.
Concluding, the visit, Ms. Rotzoll, Head of Programme, TVET Sector Support Programme, GIZ Pakistan, said that she is highly impressed to see motivation and dedication of ZABTech, in bringing change by empowering youth through skills development.
