‘Centres of excellence to empower women’
During the two-day workshop, participants noted that prevailing mindset can be changed through education and training to promote female empowerment.
The establishment of centres of excellence to train women as master trainers will help empower women of the country by providing them with a skill to enter the workforce.
This was stated by speakers as a ceremony was held at the National Vocational and Technical Training Center (NAVTTC) headquarters in the federal capital on Monday to break ground for the second Centre of Excellence (CoE) being built there. The CoEs are being funded by the European Union and the governments of Germany and Norway to promote excellence in skills training delivery for the youth and TVET practitioners.
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood emphasized the need for such centres of excellence, adding that they will help pave the way to allow the TVET system to sustainably improve the delivery of high-quality training, career counselling and job placement for the Pakistani youth. The minister further said that the ceremony is a testimony to the importance the incumbent government places at the federal level for the TVET sector.
EU Ambassador Androulla Kaminara said that teachers are a pillar of TVET and it is encouraging to see that the CoE will also focus on enhancing their skills to ensure they can play their role more effectively.
“I am particularly please so see how the CoEs are going to play an important role in women’s empowerment by ensuring that at least 30% of the trained teachers and students are women,” she said.
“Equipping women with necessary skills to join the workforce not only empowers them, but it is also beneficial for the families, communities and all of Pakistan’s society and economy,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2020.