Govt drafts first TVET national policy

ISLAMABAD: The government has finalised the first-ever national policy draft for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) with the consultation of the four provinces that is to be launched by end February 2015.
This was shared in a briefing session held in National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) chaired by Minister of State for Federal Education, Training and Standards in Higher Education Baligh ur Rehman.
The minister said TVET has a critical role to play in social and economic development and emphasised that key objectives of the policy document need to be quantified on the basis of pragmatic realities for reforms.
He also highlighted the need for introducing technical education in all high schools to shift focus from general education to skill development.
The aim of this policy is to reduce the drop-out ratio and to harness energies for gainful employment.
The minister specifically recognised the role of NAVTTC as an apex body for regulation of TVET reforms for the entire country and directed the taskforce to eliminate organisational duplications and to introduce synergetic approach.
On the policy proposal for establishment of skill development fund, the minister directed that a committee may be constituted to devise a mechanism for raising and spending the fund for skill development.
In conclusion, the minister gave specific directions for further improvements in the policy document and desired that the policy must be rolled out by the end of next month.
Rehman appreciated the excellent work by NAVTTC and TVET Reform Support Programme, from inception to finalisation and acknowledged the special role of the taskforce for facilitating countrywide consultation.
The session was also attended by Secretary Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Ahsan Raja, Chairman Taskforce on TVET Policy Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik (Additional Secretary), and Executive Director NAVTTC Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar besides national and international TVET experts of Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).