Pakistan TVET REFORM Support Programme Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Reform support Programme
ISLAMABAD, March 6, 2013: All the provincial governments including State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have finalized skills development plans in line with National Skills Strategy, a policy document to modernize technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Pakistan.
Federal, provincial and regional skills development plans were presented at a national conference entitled “Skills Development Planning-A roadmap for Action” jointly held by National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and Technical Education & Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTAs).
TVET Reform Support Programme, co-financed by the European Union, the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands and Federal Republic of Germany, supported NAVTTC and TEVTAs in developing eight skills development plans and organizing the national conference. Senior officials from NAVTTC and provincial and regional TEVTAs, representatives from the trade associations, chambers of commerce and industries from across Pakistan attended the conference.
The conference was designed to enable the provincial TEVTAs/agencies and NAVTTC to publicly present their skills development plans, which have been developed in line with the National Skills Strategy (NSS). It is also to demonstrate commitments towards funding the activities outlined in the plans for the current fiscal year, and seek funding for subsequent years.
NAVTTC Director General Skills Standards and Curricula Shahid Ashraf Tarar opened the conference and termed the conference as a major achievement, which he said will illustrate the action being undertaken to advance skills development and the TVET sector across Pakistan.
He said all the skill development plans reflects a roadmap for revamping TVET sector of Pakistan, enabling stakeholders and international donor organizations to understand the actions that were underway. He also emphasised that there has been marked change in the way different stakeholders at centre and the provinces have cooperated with each other in streamlining the TVET sector.
Dr. Ute Hoffmann, Coordinator TVET Reform Support Programme, lauded the efforts of NAVTTC, TEVTAs and all the public and private sector organizations for putting energies in preparation of the skills development plans. She said it was an important occasion, as for the first time NSS has been translated into action plans, to be undertaken at different levels. Implementation of these plans, she opined, will enable Pakistan to produce skilled workforce for its economic and social development.
Later on, representatives from TEVTA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and officials from the Directorate of Technical Education FATA presented their respective skill development plans. Similarly, skill development plan for Gilgit Baltistan was also presented.
These plans have been facilitated by local and international experts from TVET Reform Support Programme and guide the government and donor funding into areas of priority with the greatest economic impact.
The plans take stock of current and planned activities against the 20 objectives of the NSS. The plans also outline of economic implications – growth, employment trends as well as highlight particular policy, regulatory, funding, infrastructure and implementation issues and organisational structures available for TVET and any strengthening required to implement activities planned.
