Stakeholders agree to reform Pakistan’s apprenticeship system

ISLAMABAD, 27 Jan, 2014: Stakeholders from all over Pakistan have agreed to modernize the existing apprenticeship system with a view to provide employable skills to the youth.

The stakeholders both from public and private sector formed consensus at a National Dialogue on Apprenticeship Reforms organized by National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) in collaboration with TVET Reform Support Program, which is co-funded by the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany and being implemented by the GIZ in Pakistan.

More than ninety representatives from Business Community, Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP), Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Workers Employers Bilateral Council of Pakistan (WEBCOP)and renowned Industriesrepresentatives from across the country participated in the session.

Director General, NAVTTC Muhammad Yahya highlighted the need to reforms the apprenticeship training in line with the new market trends and the changing demand of industry. He further stated that apprenticeship is one of the foremost priority areas of NAVTTC’s National Skill Strategy.

Per Borjegren from the TVET Reform Support Programme oriented the participant about the main activities and objectives of the reform programme. He further appreciated the efforts of private sector for their initiative towards the supporting the dialogue on apprenticeship system. Abdul Hafeez Abbasi Director, NAVTTC elaborated the existing apprenticeship system in Pakistan, its limitations and proposed reforms measures which require the active participation of the public and private sector.

Syed Nazar Ali from Sindh TEVTA Sindh and Waheed Asghar from Punjab TEVTA emphasized on the importance of the reforms and discussed the related activities carried out in the past for modernizing the current apprenticeship system. Muhammad Ali Khan from GIZ presented the German-Pakistan Training Initiative (GPATI) as a model for cooperative training and implementation of the actual TVET sector reform in Pakistan.

Mr. Fasih K. Siddiqi, representing the private sector appreciated the role of NAVTTC and the support extended by TVET Reform Support program towards this initiative of understanding employers’ needs and requirements.