TEVTA receives 11,000 applications for Chinese language courses

Chairman says course is being offered in 47 institutes of 23 districts of Punjab

LAHORE: Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh has said that TEVTA has received more than 11,000 applications for the Chinese Language Course against 4,600 seats across Punjab for its 14th batch.

Talking to a meeting of TEVTA officials at TEVTA secretariat on Thursday, Sheikh said that the next batch of Chinese Language class was going to start from January 8, which will be the 14th batch since the courses were started. He said that the course has received an overwhelming response from people from all walks of life.

TEVTA Chairman said that so far around 14,000 applications have been received against 4,600 seats for this course across the province. Still there was one day left for receiving application forms for the next batch, he added. So far we have offered this course to 20,000 people in six batches, he said. “Till next year we would have taught Chinese to more than 30,000 students of Punjab.”

Sheikh added that the course was being offered in 47 institutes of 23 districts including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Sheikhpura, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Layyah, Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan, Bawalnagar, Jehlam, Attock, Jhang, Toba Tek Sing, Jarranwala, Okara, Chiniot and Kasur.

From teenagers who just completed matric, to youngsters, students, professionals, businessmen, government officials to women of all ages, everyone got admission in this class, he said. “The interest of people has forced us to not only increase the seats but also started offering courses in two to three shifts,” he added. He said that in many colleges of Lahore, the course was being offered in three shifts however, in all other colleges of Punjab there were two shifts being offered for the convenience of students.

Talking about reasons behind people’s interest in this course, Sheikh explained that TEVTA’s focus was on quality first then quantity; therefore, master trainers were teaching at TEVTA institutes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2018.