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Vocational Education and Training for the Intellectually Challenged

Project: Vocational Education and Training for the Intellectually Challenged

Project Duration: January 2014 – March 2015

Context:

According to latest data projection (2/2012, based on the last population census 1998) there are nearly 89,000 “insane” and 107,000 “mentally retarded” people living in Sindh Province. However, critics say that, due to the lack of segregated definition, not even a third of all intellectually challenged people are statistically accounted for.

The large number of intellectually challenged people in Sindh is contrasted with only 30-40 special needs schools, shelters, and day-care centres (registered & unregistered), which have a capacity of just 10-15,000 individuals. Vocational training for intellectually challenged people hardly exists. Severe limitations are the lack of specialized instructors and the lack of customized curricula as well as the reluctance of employers to open their doors for this specific target group. Only enterprises above 100 employees are bound to employ people with disabilities but many do not do so and compensate for this by paying an additional levy.

The project, being implemented by the Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), is supported by the TVET Reform Support Programme as part of the Fund for Innovative Training (FIT) component. The TVET Reform Support Programme is co-financed by the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Federal Republic of Germany and administered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Project Objectives

• To establish virtual vocational training facilities in 3 technical trades, welding, professional spray-painting and carpentry

• To create customized curricula, impart virtual simulation training, establish workshops for practical training and create linkages to Special Education and Occupational Therapy activities

Target Group

100 intellectually challenged participants, 100 unemployed and about 5,000 persons, including workers/employees, owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, local organizations, chambers, parent-guardians, school leavers, students as well as HR managers from national and multinational companies will benefit from project measures.

Methodology

• Establishment of Project Team (steering committee, project manager, sector-specialist instructors and teachers)
• Announcement of training (advertisements in leading newspapers)
• Set up training sites, purchase and install equipment
• Training of trainers, teachers and staff
• Creation of curriculum
• Awareness Campaign
• Training in 3 technical Skills
• Job placements (on-job- and internships, job placements, follow-up services)

Expected Outcome

• Sustainable training infrastructure for intellectually challenged people and unemployed;
• Better inclusion of intellectually challenged people and unemployed (project trainees);
• Better awareness of legislation on the inclusion of people with disabilities, including
o The right of education and training, and
o Employment in general.

Contact Details: Mr. Farhan Afzal
Email: farhan.khan@kvtc.org.uk