Stakeholders resolve joining hands for promotion of TVET in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD, December 3, 2013: Stakeholders at a project handing over ceremony have vowed to continue joint efforts for promotion of technical education and vocational training (TVET) in Balochistan.

They made the resolve at the handing over ceremony of Rehabilitation of Technical Training Centers in Balochistan, Quetta, which was funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, held here the other day. The ceremony was jointly organized by the Human Unity Networking Ability & Resources Balochistan (HUNNAR) and GIZ through its TVET Reform Support Programme.

Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Chairman of HUNNAR, in her said that it was a great achievement to complete the project, as the HUNNAR has taken responsibility of the project in 2009. She said that the project has been completed due to the German cooperation and all other stakeholders.

Under the project, she said that three technical training institutes in Quetta have not only been upgraded on the modern patterns, but it has also made possible to increase enrolment in the institutes. Despite various challenges, security issues and ground situation, she said that completion of the project has been made possible due to greater cooperation of the HUNNAR, GIZ and Department of Manpower Training of Government of Balochistan.

She said that the beneficiaries of the project particularly women after getting training from the rehabilitated training institutes have started their own businesses now they are able to support their families.

A number of stakeholders came from Balochistan also shared their views on the occasion and appreciated the commitment of the donors to promote technical education in the province with special focus on the women.

The project started in October 2010 and supported three technical training centres: the Technical Training Centre (TTC), the Women Technical Training Centre (WTTC), and the Government Vocational Institute (GVI). Measures include the improvement of the training environment as well as the provision of advisory services to the centres.

Ali Haider of Technical Training Centre, Quetta, Tasneem Akhtar, Principal, Women Technical Training Center, Quetta, Kausar Akbar of Government Vocational Institute Quetta shared the impact of the project on the overall improvement of the training and enrollment.

Dr Julie Reviere, Principal Adviser GIZ Education Sector, in her concluding remarks expressed the pleasure to be a part of the project, saying she is feeling proud to be among the ones who launched the project. She said that the project will help to improve the status of women folk in the province and will help them earn a decent livelihood.

She said that due to the team work of HUNNAR, GIZ and government of Balochistan, the project has now got a practical shape and the local people are getting benefits of getting technical and occasional trainings. She said that the GIZ will continue to support the efforts for promotion of technical trainings of the women of the province in the future.

During the ceremony, project completion documents were handed over to the representative of the Government of Balochistan.