Path to progress: New law all set to streamline vocational education

Govt expected to establish a body to impart training.

PESHAWAR: After much deliberation, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly passed the K-P Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Act 2015 on Friday.

The bill was referred to a select committee of the house, headed by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, after lawmakers proposed a series of amendments to the bill. The committee had met twice on February 12 and 17 to discuss the bill in detail.

Nevertheless, the act has raked up a great deal of controversy. Ever since it was proposed, the TEVTA law has drawn the ire of employees of the technical education department. A large number of employees took to the streets to voice their reservations about the proposed bill which, much to their dislike, would result in reshuffling of posts.

The new law seeks to introduce a series of mechanisms for improving the quality of technical and vocational education while closely regulating it.

A question of jurisdiction

According to a copy of the legislation available with The Express Tribune, the government is expected to establish a body called the K-P TEVTA. This body will impart technical education and vocational training through institutions under its administrative and regulatory control.

Section 2 of the TEVTA Act states once this body has been set up, it will take over administrative and regulatory control of all colleges, institutes and centres working under the Directorate of Technical Education. The clause states that K-P TEVTA will not seize the reins of commerce, business administration or management sciences colleges.



Furthermore, Section 4 specifies the directorate will cease to be attached to the departments of industries, commerce and technical education and will serve as the head office of TEVTA. The directorate’s commerce wing shall be attached with the provincial higher education department to dispose of its official business.

The board

The administration, management and overall control of K-P TEVTA will be vested in a board of 24 directors who have the discretion to exercise all powers.

According to the legislation, the chief minister will be the chairperson of the board while vice chairperson will be appointed by the government from the private sector.

“The candidate must have a graduate degree from a recognised university in the field of engineering or technology,” states the legislation. “At least, 20 years of experience in industrial management will be required. The candidate should be between 45 and 65 years old.”

The vice chairperson and other members representing private individuals and industrialist associations will be appointed for three years. According to the legislation, the provincial government shall post an official as managing director of the board for a term not exceeding three years.

The way forward

Under the new legislation, the board is required to set up new institutions to offer subjects or courses to suit the needs of the market and develop reliable mechanisms to ascertain the needs of national and international markets. It will then be responsible for imparting these skills through institutions under administrative and regulatory control of TEVTA.

“The board will be responsible for developing mechanisms to upgrade teaching machinery or equipment as required by internationally acceptable standards,” states the legislation.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2015.