Vocational training: Govt aims to train 50,000 unemployed youth

SUKKUR:

An estimated 50,000 unemployed and under-privileged youth of the country will be trained in the next phase [three] of the Prime Minister's Youth Skills Development Programme.

This was stated by National Vocational Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Sindh director-general Nabeela Umer at the Sukkur Institute of Business Administration on Monday.

Addressing participants of a skills competition, organised by the varsity and NAVTTC's regional office, she said the federal government had launched phase one and two of the skills development programme through NAVTTC to mitigate unemployment and poverty.



The competition was held to encourage candidates being trained in seven different trades in various public and private institutes of the area under phase-II of the programme.

Around 50 people undergoing vocational training in various disciplines, including welding, tailoring and dress-making, exhibited their skills at the event.

Later, Umer, NAVTTC Islamabad director Abdul Latif and Sukkur IBA director Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui distributed cash prizes of Rs20,000, Rs15,000 and Rs10,000 among the position holders of each trade. Appreciating the work of trainees, Umer revealed that 25,000 people are undergoing training across the country at the moment as part of the programme's phase-II. Highlighting future plans of NAVTTC, she said the commission aims to establish a skill development university, a job placement centre and 'centers of excellence' in each province.

Siddiqui said the programme empowers the youth by providing them opportunities to earn for their families. In his welcome note, he advised the youth not to depend upon the government for jobs, and by changing their mindset, opt for vocational training. He said "today's youth has realised this and is thus getting technical training in various trades." At Sukkur IBA, he said, we encourage students to become entrepreneurs, so they not only earn for themselves but also provide employment to others.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2016.