China pledges to set up technical training centres

Islamabad:A high-powered Chinese delegation met with federal education secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani in his office here on Monday and pledged to open technical training centres in Pakistan and train youth to become productive members of the population.

The visitors were led by chairman of the CIIC Technology Group Company Wang Dang and also included General Manager of CIIC International Education Technology Company Duan Xiaofei.

The meeting was also attended by Joint Secretary Education Sohail Akhtar and NAVTTC Executive Director Muhammad Aamir Jan. The education secretary praised Wang Dang as a true friend of Pakistan, who, he said, has always help the country fight challenges.

He said Pakistan faced a myriad of challenges in the field of education in the wake of climate change but the education ministry was trying to address them with utmost emergency.

"We have mobilised all of our resources to address this issue. We have declared an educational emergency and are addressing the issues of access to schools, limited infrastructure, quality of teachers training and nutritional problems of children in collaboration with other ministries," he said.

Wang Dang said that the CIIC wished to open its centres in Pakistan and train youth to become productive members of the population. "The primary purpose is to train local employees for other Chinese companies that are expanding their business in Pakistan as part of the CPEC project."

He said Pakistan had huge potential and through proper management of resources, all issues could be addressed. The secretary appreciated the efforts of the ministry to champion the cause of education for all.

Both sides agreed to schedule a meeting between the education ministers of the two countries as part of the process in executing the development of technical training centres in Pakistan led by CIIC Group.

The education secretary welcomed the development and said that Pakistan and China needed to expand and strengthen their collaboration in the field of education to their benefit. He said Pakistan had adopted latest techniques and approached to tackle all of the challenges of the education sector.

"We're focusing on effective disaster management to protect the educational infrastructure of the country. Climate change has presented unique challenges but the ministry of education has started targeted interventions to ensure positive outcomes."

Wani said that a special pink bus programme was launched in GB and Islamabad to ensure that female students do not have to face logistical issues of access to schools. He also said a schools meal programme had also been launched which will ensure that the stunting issue of children is also addressed.

The education secretary said the ministry had adopted a 360 degree approach to address the woes of education sector. He said under the leadership of the prime minister, a special task force on education had been created as a guiding beacon for the efforts of the government to promote formal learning.