After failing to get into an engineering university, Muhammad Ashfaq opted for a three-year diploma course in electronics from a Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) institute in 2008.

He has been running a small business of repairing UPS (uninterrupted power supply) systems for commercial places for the past four years.

"I wanted to become an engineer because I have interest in technical education," he says while sitting in a room of his small house in the lower-middle class Rab-Rab Colony in the outskirts of Lahore. He supports a family of six.

After getting his diploma, he started to work for a private company for a couple of years, where he repaired UPSs. The job was "not bad", but he wanted to do his own business.

Today, "I’m doing well", he says.

"Such courses from technical institutions always broaden your horizon and help in running your own business in a better way," he adds.

He thinks getting training from an ustad is not sufficient. "A shagird only gets a very basic technical training."

Ashfaq found out about these courses only after he failed to get admission into any engineering university -- "An engineer suggested that I should get admission in a technical and vocational centre".

Education and certification strengthens your basics and broadens your knowledge much more than being a shagird of an ustad at a workshop. He admits that doing practical work is important but one cannot ignore the value of theory.

Following the diploma certification, he also tried to do B.Sc in electronics but could not continue with his education because his business kept him very busy.

He says his 50 course-mates are all doing well in their areas. His message to students learning technical skills is "Go to these schools and learn."