‘Technical, vocational varsity to be set up in Punjab’

LAHORE :Provincial Minister for Industries Commerce & Trade Sheikh Allauddin has said that in order to fulfill future needs of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta), Punjab will establish Pakistan’s first ever technical and vocational training university in Punjab in collaboration with Chinese Tianjin University of Technical Education (TUTE).

According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, he said that around nine degree courses will be offered at UTV, including Information Technology, Automobile, Electronics, Mechanical Mechatronics, Management Sciences, Advanced Chinese Language, Padalogical Training and 3D Printing Technology. 

The minister said that delegation had visited different places of Raiwind and Township Lahore but could not finalise yet new site for technical institute.

He added, new building will be constructed in three months. He said that TUTE would share its experience for establishing and operation of the new university, including the curricula and discipline setup, development of core courses curricula development and revision construction of laboratories and as well as the training of trainers, with the expenses covered by Tevta.

Meanwhile, Secretary Schools Education Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik has said the Punjab government has decided to start technical and vocational education at school level in the province. As per this decision, 39 comprehensive schools will be converted into vocational and technical institutes in this regard.

He expressed these views while meeting with a Chinese delegation of Tianjin University of Technical Education headed by Vice-President Yan Bing in the committee room of Directorate of Staff Development on Wednesday, according to a handout issued here.

Secretary Schools Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik said the government has decided to introduce technical and vocational education at the school level and added that technical and vocational education would be introduced as a subject from Class 6 in the public sector schools. Meanwhile, 39 comprehensive high schools in different districts of the province will be converted as vocational training institutes. He said this initiative would facilitate the youth and the students would be able to earn their livelihood in an honourable way by learning beneficial skills. Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik further said that importance of technical and vocational education is getting massive day by day. There is a dire need to have a well-trained workforce in the country. This aspect will open up many new employment opportunities for the students. 

The Chinese delegation also visited Comprehensive Girls High School Bhaikaywal and Government Pilot High School for Boys Wahdat Road and examined different facilities there. The aim of their visit was to establish a mechanism regarding training of school faculty, promotion of research and development of curriculum.