Shafqat terms vocational training an important tool for creating job opportunities
Zubair Qureshi
Terming the start of fully-equipped Centre of Excellence of National Vocational & Technical Training Commission a milestone achievement, Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood on Friday said the country direly needed skilled youth as it would play a significant role in creating job opportunities as well as national prosperity.
The minister expressed these views while inaugurating the NAVTEC Centre of Excellence , Islamabad, which has recently been upgraded with all state-of-the-art facilities.
He said that Pakistan needs to also grab more jobs share in the international labour market and we can achieve this goal by providing more skills training facilities across the country.
He said this centre would facilitate training of trainers and trainees for the modern technologies and skills to compete in the national and international labour market.
The event was attended by Additional Federal Secretary Education and Professional Training, private sector representatives, relevant TVET bodies, teachers and students.
The upgradation of this Centre is supported the TVET Sector Support Programme (ssp) which is funded by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH in close collaboration with NAVTTC, Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities and a number of public and private sector organizations at national and provincial levels. The TVET SSP is supporting the establishment of five Centres of Excellence across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cluster Head for Training and Sustainable Growth for Decent Jobs GIZ Pakistan, Mr. Olaf Handloegten, appreciated this initiative and hoped that the NAVTTC management will take advantage of the upgraded training facilities for both TVET teachers and trainees and devise mechanisms to ensure that this CoE lives up to its full potential. “Now it’s time for NAVTTC and the private sector to ensure sustainability of these efforts and achievements,” he maintained.
Earlier, in the opening remarks, Chairman NAVTTC Syed Javed Hassan said, “We are overjoyed that the CoE in Islamabad is now complete and being turned over to the NAVTTC to set an example for all Pakistanis in providing outstanding training to instructors and trainees.”
