Vocational training: TEVTA establishes 72 new institutes

Authority says 18,000 students being trained in new technology colleges and technical training centers.

LAHORE:

The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) said on Tuesday it had set up 72 new technical and vocational institutes across the province over five years.

According to a statement, the authority said it was making efforts to provide trained manpower to the province’s industry.

The authority established technology colleges at Taxila, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sangla Hill, Kamalia and Pindi Bhattian.

It also set up eight technical training institutes at Bhalwal, Shorekot, Bhera, Jalalpur Pirwala, Chakwal, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Joharabad and Faqirwali.

During the period, six vocational training institutes for women were set up at Chakwal, Mianwali, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Sukheke, Rahwali and Kangunpur. The statement said 52 technical training centres were established at tehsil level. “Over 18,000 students are getting technical education and vocational training at these newly-established colleges and institutes,” the statement said.

A spokesman for the authority said that the TEVTA had started short vocational training courses for prisoners at Lahore and Multan jails as a pilot project. “The programme will soon be expanded to other jails of the province,” he said.

He said 11,534 students of 30 madrassas were also being trained by the TEVTA.

“With assistance from China, the TEVTA has upgraded the Light Engineering Service Centre at Gujranwala and the Cutlery Centre at Wazirabad,” he said. The spokesman said the Leather Service Centre at Kasur, Hosiery Training Centre at Faisalabad and Woolen Centre at Jhang had also been revived.

“The Metal Industries Development Centre at Sialkot, Centre for Agriculture Machinery Industries at Mian Channu and Institute of Leather Technology at Gujranwala have also been upgraded by the TEVTA,” he said. The official said a German organisation had provided Rs140 million for the promotion of tunnel farming, home appliances and solar panel training at TEVTA institutes.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2014.