Punjab to train 2 million workers by 2017: CM

LAHORE:

The government has set a target of training two million skilled workers by 2017-18, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

He was presiding over a meeting to review proposals to train skilled manpower in the province.

Sharif said that technical education was needed for the rapid development of the province. “The Punjab government has evolved a solid strategy for the promotion of technical education. The government has fixed a target of training two million people by 2017-18. The technical and vocational training institutions will have to play an active role in this regard,” he said.

The chief minister stressed the need for upgrading syllabi to prepare skilled manpower according to modern demands and teacher training. “New vocational courses should be introduced according to local and export requirements. Attention should also be paid to on-job training. Steps should be taken for coordinating programmes of various departments and institutions associated with vocational training,” he said.

The chief minister said the apprenticeship programme should be implemented vigorously. “They should take steps to adopt e-learning,” he said.

He directed the officials to formulate a short-term action plan for preparing skilled manpower. “A practicable roadmap to promote skills development should be prepared and submitted in three weeks,” he said. The Planning and Development Board chairman briefed the meeting about the projects underway to increase skilled manpower.

TEVTA

The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Prisons Department to provide vocational training to prisoners.

“TEVTA will establish 13 training centres in jails across the province,” Chairperson Irfan Shaikh said.

Shaikh said in the first phase, the TEVTA would train 6,400 prisoners in one year. “Male, female and juvenile prisoners would be imparted vocational training in 15 fields. The technical training centres will be established in central jails in Mianwali, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Kot Lakhpat Lahore, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad district jail women’s section, Faisalabad Borstal Jail and Bahawalpur Borstal Jail,” he said.

“After getting vocational training, the prisoners will be able to earn an honest living upon their release.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2015.