Training centre adopts modern methodology
Calls Rs7b annual allocation unfair considering scope of services
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Demand patterns in the modern world are changing fast and the workforce needs to be equipped with up-to-date skills to meet market needs.
In this regard, many training institutes are restructuring their strategies to impart the required knowledge and skills to the workforce in line with the changing market trends.
On similar lines, the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) is seemingly transforming its decades-old methodology on modern lines largely to dismiss the existing perception.
Established in 1999 through an ordinance, the authority has imparted vocational training to millions of Pakistanis, however, the quality of skills imparted by its 403 institutes remains debatable.
The authority receives Rs7 billion from the Punjab government annually in the shape of non-development budget in addition to some undisclosed amount which it receives from the global donor agencies and institutes.
The low financing is one of the reasons why Tevta is producing low-grade technicians, plumbers, beauticians, etc. Newly appointed chairperson of the authority Ali Salman Siddique considered the allocation of Rs7 billion to Tevta unfair at a time when Rs383 billion had been put aside for Punjab’s education sector.
“The amount allocated to Tevta is nothing compared to the scope of work that the authority has,” Siddique told The Express Tribune in an interview. “Nevertheless, money is not an issue but the lack of vision, direction and future strategy is.”
According to Siddique, the vocational training authority is heading in the right direction as it has improved its vision and crafted a new strategy to cater to future employment needs for the working age population of 72.7 million in Punjab. “We are introducing new courses and programmes for our students with the help of industries, the academia, donor agencies and foreign countries,” he added.
These include artificial intelligence and robotics, virtual assistants for Amazon and entrepreneurship programmes. Besides, he added, the authority was also planning to establish a centre of excellence.
Recently, the authority has initiated a pilot project in cooperation with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums), where the National Incubation Centre is providing advice and help to the first batch of 30 Tevta students. The chairperson called it a step in the right direction as the students were receiving mentorship for startup entrepreneurship.
Talking about funding for these initiatives, he added that the authority was collaborating with microfinance banks and government entities while it had plans to establish its own incubation centre later on.
“We are also collaborating with Pakistan Railways on its upcoming Mainline-I project,” he disclosed. “At least 7,500 skilled workers will be required for this mega project and we, along with railway officials, are devising courses in this regard to place our apprentices there.” In 2015, the World Bank granted $10 million in loan to Tevta but it was not utilised by the previous high-ups.
According to Siddique, the amount will now be spent on human capital development through competency-based training and assessment courses. “These cannot be rolled out without curriculum-compliant labs,” he emphasised. “By March 2020, 83 Tevta institutes will be operational for over 37 competency-based training and assessment courses. All such initiatives will be undertaken through the assistance of donor agencies while the provincial government will also allocate extra funds for some of Tevta’s flagship projects like ‘Hunarmand Nojawan’. Siddique elaborated that the Hunarmand Nojawan programme would provide demand-driven skills for an additional 100,000 students annually other than the already enrolled 94,000 students.
“Globally, China has established five artificial intelligence and robotics labs including the one at Tevta, called Luban,” he said. “We will request China to set up another such lab along with the equipment so we can train the workforce in line with employment needs of different CPEC projects.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2019.
Demand patterns in the modern world are changing fast and the workforce needs to be equipped with up-to-date skills to meet market needs.
In this regard, many training institutes are restructuring their strategies to impart the required knowledge and skills to the workforce in line with the changing market trends.
On similar lines, the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) is seemingly transforming its decades-old methodology on modern lines largely to dismiss the existing perception.
Established in 1999 through an ordinance, the authority has imparted vocational training to millions of Pakistanis, however, the quality of skills imparted by its 403 institutes remains debatable.
The authority receives Rs7 billion from the Punjab government annually in the shape of non-development budget in addition to some undisclosed amount which it receives from the global donor agencies and institutes.
The low financing is one of the reasons why Tevta is producing low-grade technicians, plumbers, beauticians, etc. Newly appointed chairperson of the authority Ali Salman Siddique considered the allocation of Rs7 billion to Tevta unfair at a time when Rs383 billion had been put aside for Punjab’s education sector.
“The amount allocated to Tevta is nothing compared to the scope of work that the authority has,” Siddique told The Express Tribune in an interview. “Nevertheless, money is not an issue but the lack of vision, direction and future strategy is.”
According to Siddique, the vocational training authority is heading in the right direction as it has improved its vision and crafted a new strategy to cater to future employment needs for the working age population of 72.7 million in Punjab. “We are introducing new courses and programmes for our students with the help of industries, the academia, donor agencies and foreign countries,” he added.
These include artificial intelligence and robotics, virtual assistants for Amazon and entrepreneurship programmes. Besides, he added, the authority was also planning to establish a centre of excellence.
Recently, the authority has initiated a pilot project in cooperation with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums), where the National Incubation Centre is providing advice and help to the first batch of 30 Tevta students. The chairperson called it a step in the right direction as the students were receiving mentorship for startup entrepreneurship.
Talking about funding for these initiatives, he added that the authority was collaborating with microfinance banks and government entities while it had plans to establish its own incubation centre later on.
“We are also collaborating with Pakistan Railways on its upcoming Mainline-I project,” he disclosed. “At least 7,500 skilled workers will be required for this mega project and we, along with railway officials, are devising courses in this regard to place our apprentices there.” In 2015, the World Bank granted $10 million in loan to Tevta but it was not utilised by the previous high-ups.
According to Siddique, the amount will now be spent on human capital development through competency-based training and assessment courses. “These cannot be rolled out without curriculum-compliant labs,” he emphasised. “By March 2020, 83 Tevta institutes will be operational for over 37 competency-based training and assessment courses. All such initiatives will be undertaken through the assistance of donor agencies while the provincial government will also allocate extra funds for some of Tevta’s flagship projects like ‘Hunarmand Nojawan’. Siddique elaborated that the Hunarmand Nojawan programme would provide demand-driven skills for an additional 100,000 students annually other than the already enrolled 94,000 students.
“Globally, China has established five artificial intelligence and robotics labs including the one at Tevta, called Luban,” he said. “We will request China to set up another such lab along with the equipment so we can train the workforce in line with employment needs of different CPEC projects.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2019.