AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, October 03, 2012 (PPI-OT): Technical and Vocational Training (TEVT) could only be successful if it is designed and implemented as per demands of the industry. To make this happen, close involvement of Industry in TEVT design, implementation and management is inevitable.
This involvement is being fully institutionalized by Sindh TEVTA through a transparent and autonomous mechanism of Institute Management Committees. This was the gist of the Consultative Session organized jointly by Sindh TEVTA and ILO Pakistan at a local hotel on 25th September, 2012.
The initiative is part of Technical Assistance, International Labor Organization (ILO) is providing to Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) under the Project titled Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Youth through Education and Training (EET) The session was attended by renowned Industrialists, representatives of Chamber of Commerce, private and Not-for-Profit Sector TVET providers and government officials.
The key participants included, Mr. Majyd Aziz (Former Chairman Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mr. Ahsanullah Khan (Chairman Workers Employers Bilateral Council of Pakistan and Skills Development Council, Karachi Chapters), , Mrs. Parveen Sheikh (President ECDI ), Mr. Fasih ul Karim Siddiqui (Employer Federation of Pakistan), Mr. Adnan Azdar ( Board Member, Hunar Foundation), Mr. Shahid Zaki (CEO, AmanTech Vocational Institute), Ms. Masooma Lotia, Mr. Buksh Ali Lakho (Industrialist), Ms. Rukhsana Zuberi (Ex- Senator), Mr. Shoukat Ali (Trade Union) besides senior STEVTA officials.
Ms. Perveen Shaikh welcomed the participants, briefed them about on day activities, objectives of the consultative session and thanked them for sparing their precious time for the session.
Mr. Saad Gilani (Project Manager, EET-ILO), appreciated the role of industry for supporting Sindh TEVTA for qualitative and demand driven trainings. Mr. Gilani highlighted key Capacity Building interventions that ILO is undertaking with STEVTA which have yielded positive results and are being replicated in other provinces.
Mr. Ehsanullah Khan emphasized the importance of IMCs and shared with the audience his personal experience of employer led IMCs providing transparency, autonomy and greater job opportunities for the TVET graduates besides better performance of the Institutes from policy making to implementation level.
Syed Nazar Ali, Director Operations, Sindh TEVTA stated that, realizing the importance of employers involvement, Sindh TVETA has established IMCs in over 140 institutes in Sindh under the Chairmanship of local employers to help identify and establish demand driven training programs and to better govern public sector institutes. Besides, in order to maximize stakeholder participation in Sindh TEVTA affairs, Government of Sindh has notified an Advisory Panel to STEVTA Board comprising of distinguished Industrialists, Trade Unions and other relevant technical agencies.
The proposed Draft Rules of Businesses for Institute Management Committees presented for consultation were drafted by the experts after careful review of the literature and discussions with key stake holders.
The IMCs have been established by Sindh TEVTA for improving quality of training, increased relevance to the market demands and outreach to vulnerable groups improving linkages with Industry for quality and relevance of vocational training in Sindh TEVTA Institutes. The proposed rules will bring in uniformity and delegate authority to various levels for better performance.
The consultative group strongly recommended minimum 50% participation including chairmanship by Industrialists and employers representatives, 30% by Trade Unions and renowned NGOs and remaining 20% STEVTA officials with Principal of the institute acting as Member and Secretary. The various provisions of the rules were modified to ensure that the industry through these IMCs would remain the guiding force behind all TVET institutes where these are constituted.
The session ended with note of thanks to the participants and the International Labour Organization which is the key motivating force behind the initiative.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +9221 99202019
Cell: +92300-3524057 (Ext: 336)